Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tips #107-111

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #107 

EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS PART III 
LOCK IT IN 
Wait for every single person on every single team to exhibit the required behaviors for dismissal. “Lock in” to your brain the order in which each team exhibited the required behaviors for dismissal. Once the entire class is perfect, THEN dismiss the teams one at a time with just enough time for students to line up, go to the carpet, etc. 

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #108 

EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS PART IV 
ONLY DISMISS STUDENTS FOR THE FIRST SEVEN HOURS OF THE YEAR 
After that, have the first student you see exhibiting the required behaviors dismiss everyone else by “Locking It In” (Teacher Tip 107). This gives away control in a healthy way, encourages kids to exhibit the required behaviors, shows your students that their transitions are their problems, and allows you to have time to get something else done. 

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #109 

EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS PART IV 
INSTEAD OF TELLING KIDS WHAT TO DO, HAVE A SNACK 
Have a student “Lock It In” and then have a snack while he or she is dismissing. There are no better ways to show students that their successful transition from one thing to another is their problem, not yours. *Hint: Eating your lunch while your students are being Locked In for their lunch is particularly effective. Especially if it is something really delicious. 

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #110 

EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS PART V 
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT 
If your students are not able to effectively transition from one place to another (seats to line, seats to carpet, carpet to line, etc.) have them go sit back down, wait to be dismissed again (last), and try it again. Do this as long as it is convenient. After that, delay the team Learning Opportunity and have them come in later at a time that is convenient and they can practice transitioning until they get it right. 

Kid Whisperer Nation Teacher Tip #111 

EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS PART VI 
SHIFT YOUR PARADIGM 
Stop thinking that it is your responsibility to get your students to P.E., lunch, or the bus lot. Instead, think of your class getting to these places as their responsibility. Explain to Specials teachers that they may be late at the beginning of the year from time to time, but after the first three weeks, they will be the most prompt class in the building.