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In case it may help, a few things that have helped with transition and chaos avoidance in the classroom this week.
- collect workbooks in rows, so each row are responsible for getting their pile back and out as sensibly and quickly as possible at lessons start and end.
- collect workbooks in rows, so each row are responsible for getting their pile back and out as sensibly and quickly as possible at lessons start and end.
- getting into the habit of ‘next time.....’ and ‘last time...’ dialogue. Students write down one question to start on next time before you arrive. This is also beneficial for making explicit links of the cohesion between what we are doing when and why- logistic and cognitive 
- routine, routine, routine. Whatever works from you- and repeat it a thousand times until, as @ChrisMoyse says, it’s impossible to not do it. Books out, pens ready, task from last time in silence. Hold the line. That’s the routine.
- go large on the praise here. None of that lack of smile until Christmas: look out for the ones getting it right! As you walk in the room, think macro, micro on the thank yous- ‘80% with pens competing the task! Fantastic! Thank you Emily; thank you Sam; thank you Billy-Bob.’
Finally, ensure there is a clear start and end to the lesson. Even if students aren’t moving, finish with order and it’s the end of the lesson when you say so- not the bell, not them. When it’s quiet, when everything is away, when YOU say so! #fin
