Tuesday, December 18, 2012

With a Sense of Urgency

Regie Routman talks about teaching with a sense of urgency. I suppose that could be interpreted many different ways. One of the ways that belief has found its way into my classroom is in my transitions.  I don't like to waste time during those parts of the day, and if you teach in an elementary classroom, you know there are about a million of them a day.  (Okay, so there might not be a million, but when my students use that word, it basically means "lots," so there you go.)  

In order to make the most of transitions, we sing, count, recite poems, etc.  I purposefully give them something to do, but in order to use the time effectively, I have to be prepared and know what I'm going to expect of them.  Here's how I make that happen.  I have a section in my weekly lesson plans for what I want to do during those times.  (Does everyone already do this?  If not, I'd highly recommend it.)  I do this on a week-by-week basis, because the things I want to do differ depending on the time of the year.  This is a picture of the transitions I was doing during the second week of school.


Whether you understand what all those transitions are or not isn't the point of course.  Staying organized and teaching with a sense of urgency is.  It's sure helps me!


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9 comments:

  1. I so love how organized and intentional you are with your students' learning! Transition times can eat up so much valuable learning time.
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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    1. Lori, yep might as well use transitions to our advantage because otherwise they will definitely eat up too much time.

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  2. Transition or no transition, I would TOTALLY love to sing with you! How wonderfully purposeful you are in your work.

    Barbara

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    1. Barbara, come on over. We sing all the time and would love to have you. :)

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  3. Point well taken! Maybe a post on some of your more unique transitions? I do not know Batman????????

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    1. Mary, I like the idea a unique transition post, including Batman (although I did not make it up).

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  4. Great idea, Tammy! I don't like wasting learning time either, so this is a great way to learn during transitions! Now I just wish I could sing like you!!
    Connie Anderson:)
    www.welcometofirstgraderoom5.blogspot.com

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    1. Connie, fortunately the kids don't know if we're great or not so great singers. :)

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