Routines & Norms: Creating a Safe, Sane Classroom

Let’s Begin

Ideally, you’re thinking about your daily plan and classroom climate even before the beginning of the school year, since you’ll want to introduce basic routines and start talking about norms with students right from the start. But you also may be in the midst of a challenging year, ready to get more strategic.

No matter the situation, this section will help you think about what you want your class to look like, feel like, and sound like:

• ·      When students enter the room
• ·      During instructional time
• ·      During work time
• ·      During transitions

Take time to picture and play out each scenario helps you design routines and expectations that work for you.

Rule of Thumb: Investing time NOW to create and teach (or improve!) routines and norms pays off in more time for teaching content LATER.

Routines 101

You’ve probably heard it before: Routines can be the difference between your ability to teach what you’ve planned – or not! Routines are know-by-heart tasks that increase students’ time on task and keep the classroom running smoothly, without your constant oversight.

Classroom routines also:

• ·      Increase student engagement
• ·      Decrease disruptive behavior
• ·      Boost student independence
• ·      Promote a peaceful learning environment
• ·      Help you meet diverse academic, social, and behavioral needs

Did you know…? Daily routines have been shown to free up cognitive capacity for problem-solving; when educators spend less time thinking or worrying about the dozens of repeatable tasks they and their students do, everyone in the class saves mental energy for learning and applying that learning. (DaSilva, 2003)

Establish Everyday Routines

It’s up to you to decide which routines you want to establish. Think about the activities your students need to do on a regular basis – everything from entering the classroom to turning in work, using the restroom, and sharpening a pencil. Explicitly outlining the specific steps you’d like your students to follow when they do these tasks will set them up for success.

Common everyday routines include:

• ·      Entering the classroom
• ·      Visiting the bathroom
• ·      Moving through school
• ·      Dismissing students at the end of the day

You’ll also need routines for:

• ·      Emergency drills
• ·      Classroom visitors
• ·      Use of classroom materials

Planning Routines

Time to start planning some routines! Remember that a routine that works for first graders probably won’t work for fifth graders. And the routines used by the veteran teacher down the hall might not work for you. The most effective routines are tailored to the needs of your class. When crafting routines, think about:

• ·      Administrative requirements. Your school may have specific guidelines that all teachers need to follow during lockdown or fire drills, for instance. The administration may also have specific rules that govern student behavior in the hall or at recess.
• ·      Student development. Routines must be developmentally appropriate. Younger kids can’t sit still or be quiet for prolonged periods of time; older students crave independence.
• ·      Your preferences. If you don’t like the routine, you are unlikely to reinforce it. Inject a little bit of fun – and a bit of your personality – into your routines. (Love music? Consider playing music in the background as students enter the room.)
• ·      Student needs and preferences. You might not know much about your students before Day 1, but as you get to know them, don’t hesitate to tweak class routines in response to their likes, dislikes, and needs.
• ·      Priorities. What is the most important thing you want a particular routine to accomplish? Health and safety, of course, are top priorities. Tim Wheeler says his number one objective is “getting his class where they need to be” when they move through the halls, so he doesn’t stress out if students whisper to one another.

Successful routines target a consistent, necessary action you or your students do as part of the school day and are composed of a series of simple, repeatable steps.

To read more, the book, The Go-To Guide for Classroom Management by Jennifer L. W. Fink is available here.