Blog #5 Classroom Routines

• Flexibility from routine so that you can adjust to different learning needs.
• Facilitate individual learning and shared community
• Develop an autonomy should be the primary goal for students so that they can become more independent.
• Teach your students flexible room arrangements so that when necessary they can quickly and quietly change the room around if necessary.
• Have predictability at the start of the day so that student can come in know what they need to do quickly so that you can start your class.
• Have certain routines so that students have access to help when they need it. For example a cue for when they need to listen because the time for questions will soon be off limits. Have one or more student who can where a hat or clipboard that can be there to answer questions about directions or work. Students can have stop go card to let the teacher know who he/she is doing. Green means the student is fine, while red means they need some assistance. Another option is using a Red Cross Emergency can. Each student is given a stick with their name on it in a white can. When they need emergency assistance they put their stick in the Red Cross can and they teacher will check there first when circulating the room.
• Use visual cues such as signs posted around the room to remind students where to turn in their work, steps to follow at a given work station, class schedule, etc.
• Pre-establish groups by planning a head with several group arrangements for the weeks ahead.
• Use goal cards regularly. This means when a student is working with small groups or independently have them write a goal for the following activity.
• Teach for smooth transitions. Be aware of how you would like the room to look when students leave for recess, lunch, or to go home. Then teach a process of how you would like things put away and the room cleaned up and how they should wait to be dismissed.