Bellringers and the Transitioning Student

Transitioning from high school is a pivotal phase in a young adult’s life, and engaging in casual conversations about their likes, interests, and thoughts is an easy way to create connection. One method to facilitate these conversations and ease this transition is to use a bellringer, a brief activity or assignment at the start of class that can guide the day’s discussions.

These tools can be an excellent way to build connections with students, introduce adulthood-transition topics, and engage students in the broader discussion about life beyond high school. Bellringers can be basic and encourage self-reflection:

  • What three words describe you the best?
  • What is one thing that makes you happy?
  • What is a job you would like to know more about?

Bellringers can also serve as a springboard into deeper discussions about students’ strengths and needs:

  • Name something you are good at.
  • What is something nice someone has said about you?
  • Name two things at home you need help with.

Additionally, bellringers that focus on independent living skills can provide teachers essential insights for transition assessments and promoting student problem-solving:

  • Do you think you have the skills to live independently? Why or why not?
  • You must be up for work in the morning, but your neighbors are having a loud party late into the night. What should you do?
  • If you are sick, how do you find a doctor? How do you make an appointment? What information do you need to make an appointment?

Bellringers not only build relationships, but they also spur critical thinking and prepare transitioning students for the responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities they will find in the adult world.

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