Importance of Classroom Routines and Procedures

Students need structure and familiarity as they continue to learn and develop, and classroom routines and procedures give students a predictable day. They'll know what to expect each day and feel more confident and secure in their daily activities. For younger children, a routine engages them in learning and helps them feel safe in their environment, while it helps older children know what to expect and feel more comfortable. This is why classroom routines are important to the learning process.

Routines in the classroom make class time more enjoyable and productive. They offer students a sense of stability. By having classroom rules and procedures that you follow, your students will know your expectations. Behavioral problems and distractions can decrease when students understand how to act. Learn more about these benefits and how to implement a successful classroom routine!

Benefits of Classroom Routines and Procedures

Effective classroom procedures and routines offer many benefits to students. Students who know how they should act in the classroom can be more successful because they can learn and achieve more. Students will spend more time learning instead of getting ready for class or asking questions about what they should do because you've streamlined the process for daily tasks. The benefits of classroom routines and procedures include: 

• Creates consistency: Your students will learn what to expect when you're consistent. Routine consistency fosters a positive learning environment because the same rules apply to everyone so no one can be discriminated against or favored.  
• Enhances behavior management: Students will learn your rules and what you do to enforce them. Enforcing your rules will increase your students' respect for you and decrease behavioral problems.  
• Reduces classroom distractions: An established routine will lessen student movement in the classroom or direct it where you want it to go. When the students know what they're supposed to be doing, it will also reduce distractions. If someone comes to class late, they can easily catch up without disrupting the class because they know the class structure.  
• Boosts focus and engagement: Students will become familiar with the classroom flow and what comes next, making it easier for them to be focused and engaged. 
• Creates an effective classroom management plan: The only way for your classroom management plan to work is if you are consistent and enforce the rules. If you don't, students will think they can get away with things, which leads to behavioral problems. Set clear classroom expectations and ensure students understand them.
• Makes lesson planning easier: Once you have a routine, it serves as an outline for lesson planning. It makes lesson planning easier and leaves more time for tailored teaching strategies because all you have to do is fill in the blanks based on the times you set for various subjects or activities. 

Types of Classroom Routines

Routines facilitate teaching and learning. They come in many forms and can include the layout of your classroom or how you structure the day. Classroom routines for better classroom management will help students know what to do in various situations. Some of the classroom routine strategies you can consider include: 

1. Entry and Exit Routines

For younger students, explicitly explain how you want them to line up to enter and exit the room. Students of all ages will need to know what to do once they enter the classroom, such as what equipment to get or put away, what books to grab, what materials to take out and where to sit — if your classroom has assigned seats. Implementing entry and exit routines helps the class start sooner.   

2. Transition Routines

Students must exit the classroom for various reasons, like lunch, a break or the end of a class period. Things will go more smoothly when there is a set routine for transitions, and students will act according to your expectations. It can also help to let the students know a minute or so before the transition so they can get right into it. 

3. Student Attention

It can be challenging to get students to pay attention for the class duration. Establishing a routine for gaining student attention can prevent classroom disruptions. For instance, you could catch the eye of the student or students who aren't paying attention and say a keyword like "eyes on me." For younger students, you could clap your hands or perform a hand gesture.  

4. Teacher Attention

Your students need to know what to do to get your attention during class if they have any questions or problems arise. You can have them raise their hand or use another signal. Silent methods for gaining your attention will prevent distractions.  

5. Fast Finishers Routine

It's common for students to finish their work early. Help maintain productivity for others by having fun activities or set things for fast finishers to do so they don't distract other classmates. You can have them read a book, do an activity sheet or work on the next assignment. These activities keep them occupied, which helps prevent them from talking and distracting other students. 

6. Collection and Distribution of Materials

There are a lot of systems you can use to organize the collection and distribution of materials. Establishing a routine will save class time and keep materials neat. You can use labels, color coding or another method so students know where specific materials are and how to collect them or put them away. 

7. Classroom Roles and Responsibilities

You can foster a sense of responsibility in students by assigning them different classroom jobs and responsibilities. For instance, one student can be in charge of handing out books at the beginning of class. Another might always be the leader of a line for exit routines.

8. Planner Writing

The end of class or a subject is an excellent time for students to take out their planners and write down their homework and upcoming assignments. Daily student planners will keep assignments organized, and the act of writing things down will help students remember. You can model for the students how to record the information in their planner so every student writes down the same thing.  

Set Successful Routines With Daily Planners From Success by Design

Planners help students stay organized and prepared for exams and assignments. Writing homework down will help them remember it, and they can refer to the planner anytime. Students can use their planners to set a homework schedule, plan out study time and track due dates. Success by Design offers a variety of planners for elementary, middle, high school, STEM or religious students. 

Among our planners, there is certain to be one that fits your needs and the needs of your students. Browse our planners today to begin establishing a daily routine for students to record their homework and upcoming assignments and for a limited time shop our reduced price student planners.   

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