Procedures and Routines for the Classroom

Classroom Rules are the first thing that you want to establish with your students; the second item on the agenda should be your classroom procedures. If your classroom procedures are clear and organized, you will cut down on the number of misbehaviors and classroom disruptions. Many teachers confuse procedures and routines with classroom rules, but they are actually different beasts that must be tackled in the first few days of school.

Effective teachers think about what procedures they want to see become routines and prepare to teach them just like they do any other lesson throughout the year.

Here are some procedures that you need to consider:

• Entering the classroom
• Beginning class
• Dismissal at the end of the period
• Transitions between activities
• Obtaining supplies and materials
• Heading on papers
• Turning in homework
• Sharpening pencils
• Restroom passes
• Asking questions
• Finishing work early
• Passing in papers
• Finding make-up work after being absent
• Moving into cooperative groups
• Fire drills and other emergency procedures

Another procedure that you will want to give careful consideration to is the beginning of class. It is important that students have some activity to start the day. It could be journal writing or a sample test question. Some teachers have Daily Oral Language or a Brain Teaser. It could also be something that introduces your lesson for the day like silently reading an article or working on a worksheet. Whatever you decide is left up to you, but under no circumstances should your morning routine be taking attendance while the students are goofing around or talking.

While you must put thought into the first few minutes of class, you must also put thought into the last few minutes. The way that you close your lesson and dismiss class will have an impact on how your students act in the hallway and perhaps even how they act in the next class. I always end my lesson about five minutes before class is dismissed, so that I have time to restate the learning for the day ("Today we learned about doing our daily pages and how to turn in homework.") and give them their homework assignment. I always give homework, and I always give it at the end of class. I don't want them working on their homework during class. 

These are just a few of the things that you need to remember before that first day. I know that it's overwhelming, but now is the time to start thinking about your procedures and routines.

If you have any questions or your own special ideas, please leave them in the comments below.

Melissa