You know the three Rs, right? Reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic. (I mean, really, what teacher would approve of ‘rithmetic as a word anyway? 🙂 ) Well, I’m proposing a new R that I believe is key to successful classroom management. Drumroll, please…routines!
Whatcha think? Is this a decent idea? I truly believe that kids feel most self-assured in classrooms with established routines. I don’t mean to suggest that everything be a routine. Where’s the fun in that? (Well, frankly, there is no fun in that!) But I do think every well-managed classroom incorporates routines of some sort.
Let me know what you think. And, if you’d like, tell us about a classroom routine or two that have improved your classroom management.
Hooray for routines!
Diane
I agree whole heartedly. Children need routines (with flexibility), they need to have consistency in their life.
I think routines are great! I run a family childcare and we do the same things everyday. We eat at the same time, go outside at the same time, and take naps. They know what to expect so there are less battles when it is time to clean up! I also think giving a 10, 5, 2, and 1 minute warnings help also because they can wrap up their ideas without that feeling of being rushed. They know what is coming and can prepare themselves for the next transition.
one year I established “traffic patterns” in my classroom and the kids loved it. It cut down the chaos of lining up, getting materials and games, and going to centers.
I always use routines in my classroom (with flexibility of course). Without routines, it would be harder for the children to adjust and learn to love school. Personally I think it makes it easier for teachers as well. With so much class content that we have to do today we would be totally lost without a routine.
Routines are a must in a classroom. I’ve taught upper grade(3,4,5) and now kinder, all my students learn my expected routines for entering/exiting, turning in papers, gettting materials, using materials in class,and so much more.
Of course we know that not everyday will go the same, assemblies, fire drills, and special classroom days(100th day ect..) will mean a slight change in the daily routines but in general I find that students crave the routines.For some students school is the only place where they know what each day will bring and they really need that security when their home lives are so unsettled.
It is so interesting to me every year how the children love routine. Of course, you have to be flexible but on a regular basis I follow a very certain routine. My students love it and learn to tell the “time” of the day based on my routine. They have a much better day when we are following our normal routine.
One of my classroom jobs is Daily Schedule Person. We have a routine, and the students take turns being in charge of the schedule. I have a chart of the daily routine with a marker that gets moved down as we go through the day. The students love to have that job. For example, if a student asks, “When is lunch?”, all I have to do is refer him/her to the daily schedule chart. 🙂
One routine I establish the first day of school is that students must sharpen 3 pencils before school each day or at the end of the day before. That way, we don’t need to interrupt instruction with the loud whir of the pencil sharpener right at a critical time!
I also have a morning routine. Each morning, kids some in, turn in homework, unload backpacks, hang up backpacks, and write their homework in their agendas. Then, we are ready to begin the day.
I think routines make children feel safe!
Routines are a must. While working as a substitute teacher was taught in some classes where the teacher did not establish routines. In these cases students would come in and not know what to do to get ready for school in the morning. Their teacher would always have to tell them. It made it very difficult to get through the day.
In my own classroom I had routines for arriving at school, getting ready for lunch, specials and home, etc. I feel routines helps students become independent.