Starting the Day on the Right Foot
Posted by Hope Spencer on 13 Nov 2009 | Posted in: Classroom Routines, Teachers and Teaching
I love routine. I love to follow the same schedule, eat the same foods, and even drive the same route to work every day. Other than my love for working with children, I think that’s one of the things that helped me most in the classroom. A lot of children thrive in an atmosphere of routine, of knowing what to expect.
For me, that routine started as soon as my students came into the classroom. But the routine did change depending on the grade I was teaching and the building I was in. I found that first graders need guidance right away. I had the most success when I planned something for them to start as soon as they came into the classroom. For that reason, I kept lots of good board work, journal prompts, and quick reproducible pages at my fingertips.
My second graders started our math lesson right away because we changed classes for reading each morning. Our routine was to come in, take quick attendance and lunch count, and then get books, manipulatives, and papers ready for our math lesson. During those years, I experimented a lot with my attendance and lunch-count procedures. Some procedures used clothespins while others involved pocket charts, but each was independent and taught the students some responsibility.
My third-grade students were more independent than my first graders, but I still wanted to grab them as soon as they arrived. Once they completed their attendance and lunch-count procedures, they knew they should start responding to a journal prompt or solving math word problems, depending on the day of the week. Once a week, we started the day by visiting centers. It was a good time for me to do some individual assessments and for students to catch up on assignments.
Whether starting a lesson right away, taking a minute to write in their journals, or completing morning work, the important thing was that the students knew exactly what to do as soon as they arrived at school. When kids start off on the right foot, the whole day just runs more smoothly!
Here’s to a great start for you and your students today!
Hope
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I remember in elementary school in several grades and classes that the teachers would put a block of play dough on our desks. When we arrived to class that was the first thing we saw. I think it opened our minds to creativity and fun before we had to sit still and learn. I believe also that it minimizes the stress some kids have in the morning trying to hurry and be on time. It may also subconsciously send a message that learning is fun and something you want to do.
I usually do my best to stick to my routine in the morning before school - sometimes I am not so successful. However, as soon as I get into my classroom I am always on the ball. My students need the routine and the constant repitition of the day. We always start the day by looking at the daily schedule. We have one student each week in charge of moving the arrow down the board to each activity until we reach the end of the morning. This helps all the students in my classroom see how fast the day can go and reduces anxiety.
Your blog has become part of my routine. Every teacher needs a dose of encouragement before starting the day!