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!

7th Grade Transition Time Choice Board Tutorial for Teachers

Build your own Transition Time Choice Board for 7th Grade in minutes! Keep kids engaged & learning using these tactics & templates

To use a choice board in your 7th 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 7th 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 your7th Graders

Ideas & Examples of Great 7th Grade Transition Time Choices

Create Your Dream Locker Poster

Design a poster of your ideal locker! Include colors, decorations, organization tools, and anything unique you want. Get creative with your dream space!

Design a Personal Time Capsule List

Create a list of favorite items, memories, and goals. Include photos, letters to future self, small keepsakes, and predictions. Seal them in a box to open years later!

Craft a Mindful Mood Playlist

Create a playlist with calming songs that make you feel relaxed. Choose tunes that help you focus or cheer you up. Think peaceful or happy vibes!

Compose a "My Future Self" Letter

Write a letter to your future self. Imagine who you’ll be, what you’ll do, and where you’ll be in 5 years. Be hopeful and honest. Seal it, and open in the future!

Sketch Your Ideal Study Space

Draw your dream place to study! Include a comfy seat, good lighting, and space for your books and computer. Add personal touches like plants or posters. Be creative!

Write Your Own Adventure Story

Create a story where you’re the hero! Choose your adventure—will you explore space, find hidden treasure, or fight dragons? Decide what happens next at every twist and turn.

Plan a Week of Healthy Lunch Menus

Create a week of tasty, balanced lunches! Mix proteins like chicken or beans, whole grains like brown rice, fruits, veggies, and a small treat. Drink water, not soda. Simple to make and super healthy!

Build a Better Habit Plan

Create a simple daily routine to improve a habit. Pick one goal, like reading 20 mins. Track progress on a calendar. Reward yourself each week for sticking to it!

Create a Vision Board of Goals

Create a collage of pictures and words that show your dreams and goals. Use magazines, printouts, or drawings to make a board that inspires you to achieve them!

Using a Choice Board to Differentiate Transition Time in a 7th 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 7th 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?