Establish a plan for how everything will occur during the day. Having a schedule of how things are to progress during the course of the day will help you manage your time. It also establishes a routine for students so they know what to expect each day. According to Mrs. Nelson's Classroom, "teaching procedures and routines in your room will eliminate a multitude of behavior problems and opportunities for chaos." Pre-K Classrooms also suggests to "spend lots and lots of time modeling how to make good choices and role playing different scenarios in the beginning of the year."
Determine how you want students to sit when they're on the floor. Having an idea of how you want students to sit when they're on the carpet for story time will set expectations for about what's expected when they come to the carpet. For example, you may instruct students to with their legs crossed Indian style with their hands in their laps.
Decide on a signal you'll use to get the students' attention. Using a signal to get students' attention will ensure that students respond or get quiet immediately when they hear the signal. The signal may be oral or an auditory signal such as a bell ringing or hand clap.
Create a way students will transition from one activity to the next. When transitioning from one activity to the next, some teachers play music so that students know that they have until the end of the song to be where they need to be or have what they need to have. Having a set time to transition encourages students to move quickly in order to be ready for what's happening next. Another way to encourage students to move quickly during transitions is to set a timer.