Tight Transitions 

What are Tight Transitions?

Tight Transitions between activities or stages in a lesson are intentional and strategic procedures incorporated into classroom routines to provide structure for students to be able to get ready for an upcoming learning activity and to have an understanding of what to expect. 

Why are Tight Transitions important?

Tight Transitions can increase the effectiveness of facilitating academic instruction and learning experiences to meet the learning intentions of a lesson.  As students become calm and relaxed from utilizing Tight Transitions, they are more likely to be able to prepare themselves for the next item on the agenda, improving the efficiency of each component of the lesson and increasing students' ability to demonstrate each success criteria.

What are some steps to implement Tight Transitions?

1. Create "Transitional Points" utilizing visual cues to signal to students that a transition is coming, or to use during a transition.  Some examples of visual cues include: turning off or dimming lights, projected visualizer image, a visual schedule at student desks that can be marked on, and the use of timers.

2. Create "Transitional Points" utilizing auditory cues to signal to students that a transition is coming, or to use during a transition.  Some examples of auditory cues could include: playing calming music, using a signal word or phrase, and acknowledging students who are demonstrating the expected behaviors with positive praise

3. Model expectations for Tight Transitions, demonstrating clearly each step in the procedure(s).  Consider inviting a student to model an expectation for the class, offering positive praise to the student and clarifying to the class when each step is demonstrated