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"The secret of good teaching is to regard the child's intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown, to grow under the heat of flaming imagination."

--Dr. Maria Montessori



Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Transition Tuesday

One of the hardest transitions a young child has to make is clean up time. Let's be honest, how many of us jump at the chance to clean up when we are having fun.  Below is a tip for easing children into clean up time.

Count Down

Use a large clock on the Promethean board to indicate to children when it is time to transition to clean up. Set the clock for 5 - 10 minutes. This will signal to children to complete their activities so they can begin clean up at the designated time. Children can watch the clock as it counts down. Not only are you giving children a warning for clean up but you are also teaching them the purpose of a clock, a skill they will need to know later. Using the visual reminder of the clock will reduce the number of times children ask, "Is it clean-up yet?" Once the clock counts down,  give the clean up signal so children can begin cleaning their areas. By giving them time to finish their play, clean up will become much easier for them (and YOU!). You can even enlist a "helper" to start the clock.
(If you do not have a Promethean board you can use a timer.)

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