Change and Transitions

Change and Transitions

Throughout the school day activities frequently change. Students may experience difficulty when transitioning from one to another, especially from a preferred activity to a less preferred one. Even with the best plan, teachers and students are confronted with unexpected changes to the planned schedule. A change in the typical school day causes stress or increase anxiety in some students. These students do not typically respond well to any surprise.

What You May See

• Refusing to stop an activity

• Clinging to an object

• Displaying behaviours that are physically or verbally inappropriate (e.g. hitting, kicking, crying, biting, screaming or using inappropriate language)

• Challenging behaviours increase when there is a substitute teacher, teacher assistant, etc.

• Challenging behaviours increase when the classroom environment is changed (e.g. rearrangement of the classroom environment, reassignment of seats in music class, etc)

• Challenging behaviours increase when the typical school day routine is changed (e.g. French class is cancelled, math lesson continues after recess when reading is scheduled)

• Pop quizzes or unexpected changes result in an “over-reaction”

Possible Classroom Adaptations

• Classroom or Individual Visual Schedule will help the student understand what is expected and what will be happening next. Daily visual schedules outline a student’s school day, providing knowledge about upcoming expectations, resulting in reducing anxiety and increasing success.

• Provide a monthly (or weekly) calendar to be taken home and reviewed

• Communicate with the student’s home so the parent(s)/guardian(s) can help prepare the student for change

• Provide an opportunity for calming/emotional regulation activities between transitioning from one activity to another

• Modify tasks to be completed during time allotted. This allows the student to finish a task and gain a sense of accomplishment

• Provide verbal and/or visual reminders that the activity the student is engaged in is going to end soon and that the student will need to line up with the class to transition to the next activity. Consider using a Time Timer or other visual support to indicate the present activity will be ending soon. For example, show the timer or visual and provide 5 minute, 2 minute, and 1 minute verbal warnings that a change is about to happen

• With the support of the Program Planning Team, generate a Social Story/Social Script to explain the routine of lining up, being first in the line up, etc.

• Have safe person inform the student individually about any new people in the class prior to their arrival

• Provide a buddy to signal transitions and to accompany student

Strategies and Supports

• Assign a Buddy/Partner/Mentor

• Home-School Communication

• Physical Organization of the Classroom

• Positive and Specific Praise

• Relaxation Techniques

• Visual Supports

• Visual Timers