Using Transition Cards to Support Wait Time

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We have created different sets of cards that we use to support children through transitions. They are used to avoid long wait times for children and to check in with them or practice simple skills through different games.

We try to keep the cards in a central, quick location (e.g., a basket in the hallway or near a meeting space in the classroom). You can also create a set that you can carry on your lanyard for quick access!

They are NOT meant to be flashcards. We don't simply show children the card and ask them to repeat or state what they see (e.g., "what letter is this?"). We use different games to interact with the cards and the children changing our questioning based on each child's needs and understanding. Along those same lines, be sure to switch up the experience or activity so that it doesn't become redundant for the children!

When using the cards, you want to keep the momentum going by not pausing too long or talking too much as an educator. The games are meant to be quick to keep engagement and focus.

Honour what the children say and respond by asking for multiple answers. If children respond with an incorrect response that is ok too. We will often accept 4-5 answers before moving on to the next questions or card.

Document or make quick notes: if one educator is leading the transition, the other educator (occasionally) can make quick notes about how the children are responding or what they are saying.

If you would like to purchase these templates to use with your students - follow this link:
http://passionatelycuriousinkindergarten.blogspot.com/p/templates.html

IDEAS FOR USING TRANSITION CARDS:

ALPHABET CARDS:

• Guess the Letter: Share clues with the children about the formation of the letter (e.g., "this letter has a long line down and a little line across" and/or "it makes the 'L' sound"). Once children make guesses you can look at the letter and reinforce by tracing your finger overtop and having children draw the letter in the air.
• Extension (Guess the Letter):  "I am thinking of a letter that is at the beginning of the word Tiger" and then, "what other words begin with T?"
• Show 2: Showing the children 2 letters - ask "which letter makes the 'm' sound?"
• Letter Song: "I'm thinking of a letter, a letter, a letter. I'm thinking of a letter it sounds like ____"
• Name Connections: Give clues about students in the class who have specific letters in their name - at the beginning, the end, or throughout (e.g., "this student has 2 B's in their name" - Bob) 
• Picture Show: Show the picture and ask what do you hear at the beginning? What sound do you hear at the end?
• I Spy: Use the cards to support I Spy Clues (e.g.,  "I spy something that starts with this sound/letter _____")

NUMBER CARDS:

• Guess the Number: Share clues with children about formation of the number or order of the number (e.g., "this number is 2 more than 5"). 
• Use the Number Cards to support recognition when singing simple songs: 5 Green and Speckled Frogs, 10 in the Bed, 10 Little Monkies
• I Spy: Use the cards to support I Spy Clues (e.g.,  "I spy 3 _____")

DOT CARDS and 10 FRAMES:

• Quickly Show: flash the dot pattern or 5 frame/10 frame for children to see (can show longer at first while children are learning). Ask the children, "how many did you see?" and then follow up with "how did you see it?". If you laminate your cards, you can use a whiteboard marker to circle or draw on cards to show the different ways that children saw the dot pattern. 

Great Example of Number Cards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62epCIFdRa0

SHAPE CARDS:

• Guess the Shape: provide clues that describe the shape on the card (e.g., "this shape has 3 sides and 3 vertices. What shape am I thinking of?")
• Same/Different: Show the children 2 shape cards and ask "how are they the same?" and "how are they different?"
• How do you know: To support language development, show children a shape card and ask "what is this shape? how do you know this is a circle?"

SYLLABLE CARDS:

• How many syllables: Show students the picture and ask them to clap how many syllables are in the word. Reveal hands for answer and visual support for students (e.g., bike = 1 clap or syllable)
• Same or Different: Show students the picture and ask if they can think of a word that has the same number or a different number of syllables as the picture.
• Matching Names: Showing picture first ask, how many syllables? (straw-berr-y is 3) - then ask does anyone have a name with 3 syllables (e.g., All-i-ster)

PAST BLOGS ABOUT TRANSITIONS:
http://passionatelycuriousinkindergarten.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-math-into-transitions.html
http://passionatelycuriousinkindergarten.blogspot.com/2016/10/supporting-transitions-in-early-years.html

These transition cards can be printed and enlarged/shrunk based on your needs. We recommend laminating them if you want them to be used for a long period of time or if you plan to use them outdoors!

To purchase templates for these cards, please follow this link:
http://passionatelycuriousinkindergarten.blogspot.com/p/templates.html