Facilitating Transitions

In the Beginnings Workshop on "Transitions" (Exchange, November/December 2003), Gilberto Mendez from World Forum Alliance member Child Fund International, share findings from studies in Honduras on ways to strengthen communications and collaboration among key actors that can make preschool-to-primary school transition easier for children:

• School teachers should work more closely with preschool teachers, especially toward the last month of the school year to know more about children who will enter first grade.  Moreover, if school teachers visit preschools a few times, preschool children will see familiar faces upon entering first grade.
• Schools should allow visits by preschool children and teachers.
• The school system (or district) should encourage and facilitate communication and collaboration among families, preschool, and school teachers.
• Preschool and school teachers and staff should share expectations with parents and coach them on ways to support their child’s transition to first grade/school.
• First grade classrooms should have materials familiar to children and use activities that are familiar to children; preschool and school teachers should share syllabi, prototype materials, and ideas.
• Curriculum for first and second grades of primary school should be revised to incorporate more child-centered, active learning, and flexible activities that are commonly found in the preschool learning environment; concurrently, first and second grade teachers should be trained on children’s holistic development and early stimulation.
• First grade teachers should allow transition time for children (at least two weeks) so that the latter can adapt to the new environment.

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