Megan Reynolds

Megan Reynolds

I am a teacher & designer. Connecting with students & seeing them enjoy learning is my favorite feeling on earth! I hope you enjoy this article!

3rd Grade Transition Time Choice Board Tutorial for Teachers

Build your own Transition Time Choice Board for 3rd Grade in minutes! Keep kids engaged & learning using these tactics & templates
To use a choice board in your 3rd Grade Classroom during Transition Time you will need to create the Transition Time choices (there are lots of examples), organize the classroom, and have a goal;

Time-saving, differentiation, and dynamic classroom management are my favorite reasons to use a choice board!

Integrating choices every day you will need to hone in on the best way to apply 3rd Grade Transition Time choice boards to your classroom style!

Here are a few ideas and instructions on choices, classroom management and getting buy-in from your3rd Graders

Ideas & Examples of Great 3rd Grade Transition Time Choices

Create Your Own Storybook
Make a storybook! Draw pictures, write fun tales. Use paper, crayons, stickers. Imagine, create, share your adventure. Be the author and illustrator!
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Find things in nature: a leaf, a rock, a feather, a flower, and a stick. Draw or list what you find. Be a nature detective, but don’t pick living plants or disturb animals!
Math Puzzle Challenge
Solve fun math puzzles by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing numbers! Find patterns, crack codes, and become a math detective. Can you beat the challenge?
Superhero Stretch Break
Stand up, reach high like Superwoman flying, then swoop down to touch your toes like Batman gliding. Next, pose strong like Hulk, and swing arms like Spider-Man shooting webs. Repeat and have fun!
Word Wizardry Game
Word Wizardry is a fun game where you make as many words as you can from a magic word. Use the letters, be creative, and see if you can become the top word wizard!
Space Explorer Journaling
Space Explorer Journaling: Pretend you’re an astronaut! Every day, write about your adventures in space, the stars and planets you see, and what it’s like to float without gravity!
Animal Charades Game
Animal Charades: Act like an animal without talking. Others guess what you are. No props! Just use your body and imagination to pretend and have fun!
Quiet Reading Corner
The Quiet Reading Corner is a cozy spot with cushions and lots of books where you can sit quietly and enjoy reading your favorite stories by yourself or with a friend.
Treasure Map Math Quest
Embark on a math adventure! Follow the treasure map by solving puzzles to find hidden treasures. Use addition, subtraction, and counting skills to unlock clues. Fun awaits!

Using a Choice Board to Differentiate Transition Time in a 3rd Grade Classroom

Keep It Simple

Everyone “teacher & student” should know exactly what they are doing. If you don’t make it even easier! 

Differential Instruction vs Saving time?

There is nothing more irritating than “Saving Time” with a Choice Board & ending up with “More work!”.  Are you using this to hit standards or save time or both? 

"Self Guided" or "instruction-based"?

If you giving out work, should they do it on their own or are these more instructions for each choice?

General rule, if the grade is > 3 there is more work per choice.

FREE Blank Fillable & Custom Choice Board

All ages, all grades where you need 9 grid choice board. Start loving learning again! 

How To Manage Your 3rd Grade Classroom During Transition Time (With a Choice Board)

I find its easiest to use a big board at the front of the classroom where all students can see the choices  then decide what they want to do

This often will be coming in from a break or transition between subjects. 

If you can get all students to know whats expected during a choice activity it becomes one-hundred times easier to manage the class & have everyone know what choices they have!  

There are three core steps you have to hit when using a Choice Board; 

1) The Set Up
2) 
The Instruction 
3) The Q+A 

1) The Set Up

Select your choices, decide on how you are going to use this time in your classroom. Build the choice board

1) The Instruction

Tell the students what they are going to be doing (this becomes easier over time) Simply start with 3 options & move from there. 

1) The Q & A

Does anyone have questions? This will help you or the next time. Remember the goal is to make this easier each time! 

Why Use A Choice Board?

So, let’s chat about choiceboards and why they’re like the coolest thing ever in your classroom. 

Picture this: kiddos bouncing into the room, eyes lighting up because they get to pick their own adventure in learning new words.

 It’s like a mini vocab party, and everyone’s invited!

We all have our own jam, right? Some of us are little artists, others are born performers, and some love to get lost in stories. Choice boards are like a buffet of fun learning snacks, so every munchkin finds something tasty that helps the vocab stick!

And here’s the kicker – when the little ones get to steer the ship, they turn into these mini captains of learning. They’re making the calls, and with every choice, they puff up a bit more with confidence. It’s a win-win – they’re learning and feeling like the boss at the same time.

Plus, for us teachers, it’s like having a secret helper in the room. We get to sprinkle in all sorts of activities that match our students’ levels and what makes their hearts tick. It’s like custom-making a learning playlist that gets every kid grooving to the vocab beat. How cool is that?