Procedures and Routines
A Recipe for Success
Consistent & Predictable Routines
Consistent, predictable routines are the backbone of the classroom. Following a consistent routine day after day gives children the sense of security they need to make choices and take risks, which opens the door to exciting learning opportunities.
Procedures that lead to routines help with classroom management.
Routines influence a child’s emotional, cognitive, and social development.
- They help children feel secure.
- They help children understand expectations.
- They help reduce behavior problems
- They can result in higher rates of child engagement.
- They help children become independent.
** Tips to Build Positive Classroom Routines **
GREETINGS
Begin your year with three choices at a time and add more or change the choices as the year goes on or if the children seem bored. There should always be a "non-touching" greeting.
A Welcome Mat
A Greeting Apron
high-five, wiggly handshake, heartwarming
A Morning Greeting Poster
Routines and Procedures
Arrival charts, daily schedules, center charts, and other procedures are necessary to create routines that children understand. They result in higher rates of child engagement.
Remember: (1) once you decide on a routine/procedure stick to it because consistency is vital, (2) teach the routines explicitly, and (3) always have picture cues.
Make the procedure charts and daily schedules available to the children at their eye level.
Talk about your daily schedules throughout the day and mark your progress with a clip.
Use RealPictures
Arrival Routines
Health and Safety Procedures
We Wish You Well
Classroom Helpers
“Children learn and develop best when they are part of a community of learners—a community in which all participants consider and contribute to one another’s well being and learning.”
Remember to make your jobs meaningful to the children and relevant to the classroom. Your helper/job chart will evolve through the year but you will want to have a job for every child. Many jobs can be done it pairs or small groups.
"Classroom helpers" can begin at semester, or when you feel that the teachers are ready.
School Family Jobs
Helper Chart
Classroom Jobs
Behavior Expectations and Procedures
Brain Smart Start RITUAL - Conscious Discipline
A morning routine that brings children from chaos to calm.
(1) UNITE the whole class: This is an activity that brings the class together(2) DISENGAGE stress: This will help children prepare themselves for a learning state
(3) CONNECT: Enhances attention and fosters cooperation and willingness
(4) COMMIT: This helps the children focus their attention on their goals
(1) Uniting Activity
(2) Disengage Stress
Directions for Safe Place Breathing Icons
Children learn these breathing techniques during the Brain Smart Start and can use them to calm down during other situations.