How to Make Effective Classroom Routines
Do you ever wonder why some classrooms feel like a well-oiled machine, while others feel pretty chaotic by 9 a.m.? Now, imagine if every part of your day ran that smoothly. Students unpacking, turning in their work, and getting started without even a word from you. That sounds pretty great, right? Well, today we're talking about the secret ingredient – effective classroom routines. In this post, we're diving into what makes classroom routines effective and how you can create ones that actually stick. I'll share stories and examples that you can take straight to your classroom tomorrow.
1. Make Routines Clear
Let's kick things off with a quick scenario. Picture your classroom during a math lesson. You tell your students to come to the rug with their whiteboards, markers, and erasers (that’s all you do). What is that going to look like?
Well, it’s going to look like a lot of different things. Some students might walk, others might run…and a few might skip. When they get to the rug, some will start doodling (because let’s face it, they can’t help it!), and others might turn their materials into a drum set.
Here's the thing – students aren't misbehaving just to be difficult. They simply don't know exactly what to do. And when directions feel unclear, kids fill in the blanks in their own way, and in many cases it isn’t how we would like it to go!
This is where the difference between classroom routines and procedures comes in.
Routine: The repeated action that occurs regularly in our classrooms (like your morning routine, coming to the rug routine, etc.).
Procedure: The specific steps students follow to complete the routine.
For example, in my classroom, our routine for gathering at the rug is practiced from week one. I say, "Meet me at the rug with your whiteboards, markers, and erasers." The procedure that follows is:
Students quickly gather their materials.
They walk quietly to the rug.
They sit crisscross applesauce and place materials in front of them without touching them.
And because I know that whiteboard markers are like magnets for students, I build doodling into the routine – either before or after the lesson…we get the “doodles out!” By establishing clear classroom routines and procedures, students know exactly what to expect, and we can start the lesson smoothly.
2. Consistency is Key
The next step to making your classroom routines effective is consistency. Repetition builds confidence and helps students predict what happens next. This leads to smoother transitions and fewer disruptions.
Let me share a quick story. Every morning, my students follow a specific morning routine as they enter the classroom. Their morning work is waiting on their desk, and our welcome slide is on the board with the steps they need to follow as a reminder.
Hang up backpacks and coats.
Turn in any papers.
Start morning work quietly.
When announcements finish, I start a 10-minute timer. After completing their work, students either color their morning work sheet or swap out their books for their book bins. When the timer goes off they put their colors or books away, they grab their “special red pencils,” hold them up in the air, and ready to correct their morning work together.
One day, I was talking with an adult at the door when the timer went off, but I had to quickly wrap up the conversation. When I turned around, every student was silently holding up their red pencil. I didn't need to say a word, but they knew what to do because the routine had become predictable.
You can see, consistency like this not only saves time but also gives students confidence in their ability to manage transitions independently.
3. Keep it Simple
The final piece of the puzzle is simplicity. While we want routines for just about everything in our classrooms, we don't want multiple procedures for the same task. We don’t need five different ways to line up or multiple systems for a transition. Overcomplicating things leads to confusion.
To illustrate this better, back when I was an admin, a teacher once asked me to observe their classroom to help improve the pacing of their lesson. During the lesson, I noticed three different attention-getting routines: a callback, chimes, and a cute animal sound on the smart board to get students’ attention. The result? The students weren’t sure which one to follow, and neither ended up being effective.
After our debrief, the teacher simplified it to just one consistent method. The results were almost immediate. Students responded faster, and transitions became smoother.
Next Steps: Do an Audit
I highly recommend that you take some time to complete an “audit” of your classroom routines. So, take a moment to reflect:
Do you have a routine for everything your students do throughout the day?
Are your procedures clear and simple?
Are you being consistent with these routines each time you do them?
If not, pick one or two routines to refine. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to fix everything at once.
To help you audit your routines, I've created a FREE Classroom Routines Checklist. It covers the key areas of your day and ensures you haven’t overlooked any essential routines.
Start small. For instance, choose a transition that’s giving you trouble and focus on making it clearer, more consistent, and simpler. Before you know it, your classroom will feel more like that well-oiled machine you’ve been wanting.
Want to learn more about what other pieces fit into the classroom management puzzle? Build your teaching toolkit with this FREE Classroom Management Framework Guide. It's your go-to resource for understanding the different systems that contribute to a successful and organized classroom, and a happier you!