Hey-O friends! How do you manage changing classes (my class doesn’t but I’m curious), or even moving from subject to subject within your own classroom? I teach in a self-contained classroom and it’s easy to shift subjects down the schedule a little when things don’t go as planned.
#WhoopsWritingWasSupposedToStart20MinutesAgo? ahahahaha
#NoShame
- When it’s time to check morning work, I play a song
- When it’s time to come to the carpet for a lesson I play a song.
- Subject change & it’s time to get out a different interactive notebook and folder—
- YES, I have a song for that!
I keep a slew of songs on my iTunes and iPhone/iPad and I just click depending on what I need!
It’s easy to say that it’s time to start something new and kids take that task as, “Okay I can chat with my friend now for 1049813582305 minutes”. If they’re singing—they’re on task and still able to talk–but they’re singing to a tune.
When the music stops they must be ready!
Beginning of the year I introduce a song for a new subject/idea slowly. I want the kids to get used to it and understand the rules that follow when the song begins and ends. Basically, I am morphing my little kids into dogs. Just call me Ms. Pavlov 
I keep my phone in my pocket while teaching, whatever I’m honest…judge me 
Since my phone is in my pocket, I can quickly access the iTunes app and play the songs that I need.
The volume on your phone is loud enough for all the kids to hear. Don’t stress yourself out running to the computer
Here are some possible music ideas!
The first song is this mix is the one my kids and I sing every time its carpet time! I thought the kids wouldn’t like it at first but even my boys sing along!
Use these songs to signal that it’s time to get our their folder or notebook for that song, clean just from the previous subject because the new one is about to start, or other ideas!
I also included some songs for lunch and recess!
Use these songs to signal it’s time to clean up, pack up, and/or line up for dismissal 🙂
I threw in some theme songs also 😉
What songs do you use or do you think would make great transitions?
I would love to change up my routine for second semester, next year, and give a bigger selection to other teachers!
Pin the image below so you can reference these songs later and check back for an updated list!
Kelli
March 23, 2016 at 10:31 pmI love adding music to our day, especially around transitions- I love though your interesting and fun lists for different songs for different types of transitions! It can be a way to add a little fun in the day! I am off to investigate this more! P.s. You are a riot #noshame
Marci
May 15, 2016 at 10:10 pmI really really want to see your playlist suggestions, but I just see blank spaces where the "play" button should be … any ideas what's wrong?
L
July 23, 2016 at 2:58 pmHi Marci,
I had the same issue. I have some AdBlock software on my browser, and when I deactivated it for this page, I could see all the playlists and play buttons. Hope that helps?
Megan
May 26, 2016 at 10:41 pmI use songs for transitions as well. I've used the same songs for several years now, though, so I think it's time for some new ones. Thanks for he suggestions. My students always love how we use the James Bond theme song as our pack up/clean up song at the end of the day.
Alyce Johnson
May 27, 2016 at 2:28 amI use it when we are doing stations. Each time they hear the song they straighten up and then another song to move the next station. They love it.
Alyce Johnson
May 27, 2016 at 2:29 amI use it when we are doing stations. Each time they hear the song they straighten up and then another song to move the next station. They love it.
Diana
June 9, 2016 at 5:04 amI love this! I also used music for our transitions between centers and for cleaning up to go home. I am curious for your subject transitions and going to the carpet how long do you play each song? I couldn’t imagine giving my kids 3 minutes to get to the carpet or transition between subjects.
Amber Calderon
June 10, 2016 at 9:32 pmHey, Diana! I completely agree that 3 minutes is way too long. I just pause the music whenever I see fit depending on the activity and how the room looks. The preview versions which are the promos of the songs on apple are a great length. Good Luck!
Ashley Crane
June 9, 2016 at 5:35 amOh no! I love this idea and really want to see the songs you have chosen for each transition, but they don’t seem to be working anymore :/
Jennie
June 16, 2016 at 5:12 pmI use Jack Johnson’s “We Are Going to be Friends” to call kids to the carpet and sometimes “Unwritten ” when we start/finish writing.
Terry T.
June 25, 2016 at 2:32 amThe Pink Panther song is a great one for coming to the carpet!
Jacquie
June 29, 2016 at 10:19 amFor clean up after art projects I use “Car Wash” by Cool and the Gang. Dancing happens while singing????
Amber Calderon
July 7, 2016 at 9:41 pmThat is SUCH a great song choice!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh thanks for sharing I literally LOL’d because that is so clever! 🙂
LISE RIEHLE
July 2, 2016 at 2:55 pmI teach middle school, but I do find value in transitional music from entering the class, getting set up to start, and cleaning up. My students class periods are 53 minutes, so every minute counts. I’ll look for some music, and will send it on for your other MS teachers. Thanks for the post-great ideas.
Amy
July 5, 2016 at 12:25 pmI have been browsing online more than 3 hours today,
yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me.
In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.
Patti
July 22, 2016 at 4:21 amI love to play music for my 1st graders! We have a 10 minute playlist for morning work which includes What a Wonderful World, It’s a Beautiful Morning, Good Morning Starshine, and Best Day of My Life. Center clean up is to the Password gameshow theme song, center rotations (transition) is Yakity Yak intro, Andy Griffith whistle tells us it’s time for lunch and we line up to I Dream of Jeannie. I love your choices to intro specific subjects and am adding them now. Love the James Bond song idea too!
Tobi
August 28, 2016 at 8:27 pmYakkity Yak is a great clean up song. Here are a few of my favorite lines to sing out loud to the kids: “Take out the papers and the trash…” “Don’t you give me no dirty looks…” and “Yakkity yak, don’t talk back.”
Peter McCabe
September 28, 2016 at 10:29 pmI have never used songs for transitions but I’m going to give it a go……I know I’m going to love the funny looks I get from the pupils and other staff members!!
eebest8 back
March 2, 2017 at 6:44 pm“Im thankful for the post.Much thanks again. Great.”
Bob Menz
November 9, 2018 at 9:10 pmDear Amber,
I’m an elementary school physical educator and I love to use music for my students’ locomotor movements. Thanks for sharing these great ideas with the world. I’ll get my list together over the Veteran’s Day Holiday and e-mail them to you.
Thank you and God’s Blessings.
Sincerely,
Bob Menz
Meagan
March 20, 2019 at 7:39 amThank you so much for your post. I have made my list of songs and I am going try this tomorrow!