Grade Level Transition Meetings
A successful start to next school year starts this spring with intentional and focused transition meetings between grade levels. These ideas and tools can help you get organized.
Transition meetings, when focused on data over “stories about kids” provide for continuity of learning, student support, and teacher efficacy.
Start by scheduling 45-60 minute blocks of time for each grade band meeting (e.g. K-1, 1-2, 2-3, etc.). Be sure the time also works in your calendar as you will want to be part of the process.
Create an agenda like the following (Agenda Template available HERE):
| 5 min |
Overview and purpose setting: Purpose:
Agreements:
|
| 10 min |
Whole Class Transition Current grade level team shares whole group observations (e.g. academic and emotional strengths; instructional strategies that worked; gaps or unfinished learning; students who may need to be placed in separate sections) |
| 35-40 min |
Individual Student Transition (2-3 min/student)
|
| 5-10 min |
Receiving Grade
|
| 5 min |
Wrap Up
|
The Donovan Group offers additional tips for transitions from preschool to kindergarten.
This resource speaks more specifically to transition of students with disabilities.