The Power of Routine: Why Classroom Procedures Matter

I get it! You’ve got curriculum, administration, administrative paperwork like bus numbers and IEPs, and coffee just spilt all over your new “first day of school” shirt; who has time for how your class is set up and what students have to do to be successful in it?

Well, I’m here to tell you, it’s vital! It helps and prevents a lot of further problems down the road, later in the year. Let’s see why procedures and systems work in a classroom.

Classroom procedures and systems are essential for several reasons, contributing to a well-managed, efficient, and productive learning environment. Here’s why they matter:

1. Establishing Expectations:
   • Procedures clearly define what is expected of students in various classroom situations. This clarity helps students understand how to behave and what to do, reducing confusion and misunderstandings. If Johnny is late, sick, doesn’t have a pencil, or doesn’t feel like working today – what should Johnny do? These are things to plan ahead for.
2. Creating a Structured Environment:
   • A well-structured classroom with established procedures provides a predictable environment where students know what to expect. This predictability helps students feel more secure and focused on learning. Your classroom might be the only place and time that Johnny has some form of order and discipline in his life. Johnny knowing that everyday when he comes to class, he has to turn his phone in the phone caddy might be frustrating to him, but he might appreciate the predictability because when he gets home, he’s not sure how his evening will pan out, as dad is always inebriated and mom is sometimes at work.
3. Maximizing Instructional Time:
   • Effective procedures minimize disruptions and transitions, allowing more time for instruction and learning activities. For example, a streamlined process for turning in assignments or transitioning between activities can save valuable class time. I use Online Timer to time each activity. It has different themes and it keep students focused. My students also know exactly where to turn home learning assignments in and where to pick them up when graded. I don’t have to stop class or grading or any of my tasks because students know exactly how the class functions.
4. Promoting Positive Behavior:
   • Consistent procedures support positive behavior management by reinforcing routines and expectations. When students know the procedures, they are more likely to follow them, leading to a more orderly and respectful classroom. Indeed, Johnny knows that gum is not allowed in my room, so if he’s caught, I simply give him “the look,” dart my eyes to the trash bin, and he gets up and discards his chewing gum. No additional effort or disruptions to instruction is necessary.
5. Enhancing Student Independence:
   • Clear procedures empower students to take responsibility for their actions and decisions. They learn to manage their time, materials, and behavior independently, which fosters self-discipline and accountability. Students in my classroom know when they come to class, if there is a handout or vocabulary card on the stool in the front of the class, they should go ahead and start their assignment, while I’m still at the door clearing the hallway. They know they’ll have approximately 10 – 15 minutes, depending on what’s being asked, so they govern themselves accordingly.
6. Supporting Diverse Learners:
   • Established procedures provide a consistent framework that can be particularly beneficial for students with diverse learning needs. This consistency helps all students, including those who require additional support, to navigate the classroom environment more effectively. I had a young lady last year who came to me at the end of the year and said she appreciated my class. I asked her why? She said because at home, she’s one of 4 kids that were always “loud and annoying.”
   • In other classes, teachers allowed students to do whatever they wanted and to be “loud and annoying.” So she appreciated that whenever she came to my class, she sat in the back and when they were doing their “You Do” activity, I’d play smooth jazz, classical music, or 1980’s music. She liked and appreciated the “vibe.” 😁

7. Improving Efficiency: Procedures streamline classroom operations, making everyday tasks more efficient. Whether it’s distributing materials, lining up for recess, or beginning group work, having set procedures reduces chaos and enhances overall classroom efficiency. Remember back in high school when your teachers would have you pass your exams to the person sitting ahead of you and the person at the end of the line gives them the stack of exams from all students in your row? Well, that’s a classroom procedure that adds to the classroom efficiency. The seating chart that some administration requires add to less time calling names because you if a seat is empty, you know Johnny isn’t here today; it makes your daily tasks more efficient.

8. Facilitating Smooth Transitions: Procedures help manage transitions between activities smoothly and quickly. This reduces downtime and keeps students engaged, minimizing the likelihood of off-task behavior. I give guided notes; when I do, I expect students to take out their highlighters and different pens and find their literary devices packets for us to annotate the new poem. Whenever I start distributing the new poem, students begin taking out their highlighters and literary devices packets. The transition is seamless.

9. Encouraging Fairness: Procedures ensure that classroom management is fair and equitable. All students are held to the same standards and expectations, which promotes a sense of fairness and justice within the classroom community. So I give grades for student portfolios once per grading period. I let them know which week it will be – students turn them in (with the provided rubric in the front) in one part of the classroom and pick them up at another. Some students try to turn their portfolios in late or in the wrong location, but they would still want the same grade (yes, after the allotted week) and other students would hold them accountable and say it’s not fair to them; I didn’t have to say a word.

10. Reducing Teacher Stress: Well-established procedures reduce the need for constant decision-making and problem-solving, which can be exhausting for teachers. By having set procedures, teachers can focus more on teaching and less on managing behavior and logistics. Believe it or not, students (well most anyway) take responsibility for their procrastination or shortcomings. When I tell students to turn work in in a particular way and they don’t, they understand why the lost points or the assignment wasn’t graded; I did not have to shout, scream, or keep going over the expectation. They learned for the next time.

11. Fostering a Positive Learning Environment: Procedures contribute to a positive and productive classroom atmosphere where students can thrive. They help create a respectful and supportive environment where learning is prioritized.

I tell you, there are some days where I’m not feeling up to it or students have a day to catch up and keep up. I’d go over the day’s agenda and let them have the day. I’d sit, working on my computer or consulting with a student, and watch as students are working independently or in their pairs and the smooth movement of students around the room bring smiles to my face.

They know where things go, where to find supplies, how to address grade discrepancies, etc. It is a well-oiled machine! Something to marvel.

It’s just amazing to see classrooms run smoothly. Classroom procedures are vital for creating an organized, efficient, and positive learning environment. They establish clear expectations of everyone in that room and those who come in, promote positive behavior, support diverse learners, and enhance overall classroom management, ultimately leading to a more successful educational experience for both students and teachers. Don’t forget to include classroom procedures that work for your space in your Opening of Schools packet.

Check out the following resources that may help with this endeavor.