Classroom Routines Serve a Purpose

There is nothing worse than a chaotic classroom. I need classroom routines. I do not like surprises. If students are aware of my expectations and my classroom routines from day one, there will be order. That's why routines in the classroom are essential.

If students have order in their lives, they know what to expect on a daily basis and are not surprised by their teacher’s actions. My students know that when they walk in my room, there is going to be some worksheet or some packet for them to pick up. My students know that we are always going to begin our class period with a review from the previous day, and when that is complete, I will teach the new material and students will complete an activity pertaining to what I taught as well as a review from a previous day.

My students realize that they are going to be occupied for the next ninety four minutes: listening, working, writing and reviewing. This is how learning happens in my classroom, and my students know that they do not have time to talk, to sleep, or to misbehave.

It is best to establish a routine at the beginning of a semester or a term. If things are so chaotic and a routine is needed ASAP, then try to establish a routine on a Monday or after a holiday. The sooner you have a routine in place, the better you will feel about the activities occurring in your classroom….I promise.Here are some tips as to how you can establish a routine:

1. Start early
2. Introduce the routine to your students
3. Inform the students of reasons for the routine
4. Modify the routine if parts of it do not work or as needed
5. Stick with the routine as it will take you time as well as your students time to adjust to it.