Whether it’s a new school or moving into secondary education, transition is unavoidable. Here are some resources for teachers to help students cope with change.
Making sure that any period of change for your students goes smoothly can make a huge difference to their progress. So this week, at the start of a new school year, we have a range of resources to help you tackle the challenges.
For pupils moving from pre-school to primary, it’s important to ensure that the more “formal” curriculum and teaching style isn’t detrimental to their enjoyment of learning. Circle Time is great for creating a supportive environment. This activity, which sets out instructions on how to set up a circle, is a really nice way for pupils to introduce themselves to one another.
For pupils changing class, this All about me passport is good for sharing likes and dislikes, while this giant jigsaw template will help you create a quick and easy display about your class. Find Someone Who is a fun mixer activity that will get pupils talking about what they did on their summer holidays, while this Superhero Transitions resource encourages children to think about things that they are good at, things that they could improve on and their hopes for the future.
One of the hardest transitions is the move from primary to secondary school. INTOFILM has put together a guide to help students adjust to their new surroundings. The films are about young people fitting in, working together and believing in themselves. The aim is to help pupils identify and address any challenges they might face at their new school. The guide is accompanied by a selection of warm-up activities and games that are available on the INTOFILM website. In one of these, students are asked to create a short trailer for a film about their first day at secondary school. In another, they take part in a treasure hunt that leads to different areas of the school.
Adjusting to secondary school is the theme of this year 7 transition assembly by Cafod, the Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. It encourages students to reflect on what they liked about primary school and their hopes and fears for the future. The assembly is presented as a religious liturgy, but the key messages – that discussing your concerns can help you settle into a new environment and change can lead to exciting opportunities – are useful in any setting. There are more resources for the new term on the Cafod website.
This back-to-school assembly by TrueTube encourages students to think about their journey through life and what they hope to achieve. The assembly starts with a game to illustrate the hurdles they may face and then explores the idea of setting achievable goals and striving for them using a presentation and short film. It is intended for students who have just started high school, but could also be helpful to motivate other year groups at the start of term.
Equally inspiring is New Beginnings, a poem about doing your best by performance poet Tony Walsh, also known as Longfella. It starts with the lines: “Welcome to your new school!/ Welcome to your future.” The poem is ideal for secondary school starters, but is equally relevant for older students or those preparing to leave school. Students can listen to an audio recording of the poem on YouTube, and then have a go at writing and performing a version of their own.
The move to secondary school can be particularly stressful for pupils with special educational needs. The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities has created a range of tips and resources to help ease the transition, including this poster for teachers and this one for pupils. There are also handy tips for teachers, pupils and parents on handling transition.
For students who are preparing to make the move to a new school or into the world of work, Becoming me, from National Schools Partnership offers advice and tips on eating well, organisation and hygiene. You can also find a fun quiz here that’s designed to give your students a confidence boost. If you’re looking for interactive, free online PSHE and careers resource for 14-19 year olds, check out Moving on. It uses videos, animations, audio and lesson plans to assist students with topics such as job applications, interviews, CVs, and building personal skills.
