Social story topics
Social story: Moving to a new classroom
A new classroom changes everything a student has learnt to rely on: where the bag goes, which chair is theirs, how the teacher gives instructions, where the toilets are. For autistic and neurodivergent students the end of a school year can bring weeks of worry about a room they have not seen yet.
This story introduces the new room and the new teacher before the move happens, with the details that matter to a child. It works best read alongside a visit to the room and, if possible, a photo of the new teacher. Read it several times over the last weeks of term and again on the first morning.
A sample story
My New Classroom
- 1First, I walk to a different classroom door.
- 2This classroom has new chairs, new tables, and new walls.
- 3My new teacher knows I am new to her room.
- 4I can take off my backpack and put it under my new chair.
- 5I sit at my new table and I feel safe in my new classroom.
A sample made with HandsOnTop. Yours is written for your student.
Make this story for your student
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Tips for using it
- Arrange a short visit to the new room before the end of term and read the story there.
- Carry something familiar across, such as the same visual timetable layout.
- Keep the story going for the first week in the new room.
Common questions
When should I start reading it?
Two to three weeks before the move, a few times a week. The aim is that the first morning feels like a repeat of the story, not a brand new day.
Can the new teacher be named?
Yes, and it helps. Add the teacher’s name and anything you know about the room, such as a reading corner or a class pet, to the topic before you generate.
What if we do not know the room yet?
Write a general story about moving rooms and what stays the same, then make a specific one as soon as the details are known.