It’s that time again to think about classroom routines and expectations. Our holidays are almost over, somehow… it’s time to go back to the classroom and face the music. Just kidding, I mean return to our beloved classrooms. Expectations this time of year can take on a unique stance. Our students need our expectations to remain high, always, because it’s those over the moon expectations that encourage growth in our students.
We also need to give ourselves and our students grace. Remembering that most of our students have been on an overstimulated sugar high for approximately three weeks. Similar to the adults (insert staffroom dessert tray here) so remember to slow it down. Repeat those ingrained expectations regularly for the first few weeks. Keep your tone neutral, as much as possible, and expect a few slip-up’s. Over-teach those safety rules, respectful behaviours and classroom expectations just like you did in September. What do they say? January is the new September!
Help!?! What Classroom Routines are we Talking About?
If you are new to teaching and wondering what classroom routines and expectations I will be re-teaching here are a few. Entering the classroom and having your students go to a beginning activity is key for me. We begin our mornings with the SK’s going to the carpet for UFLI and drawing on their whiteboards, while waiting for me to get through the morning transitions. For some easy low prep SOR aligned activities check out my TPT store here. The JK’s line up in the hall on our walking rope and go to the Library for circle time. In Grade One I had STEMbins that students were allowed to come in and use during our slow start or have a snack and then get their bins.
Slow starts are the dream. I always recommend them to ease the busyness that is our everyday mornings. Some teachers enjoy colouring sheets, extra work, unfinished work, depending on your grade this will vary but the intention is giving your students something they can do independently and successfully while everyone is getting settled. The trick to this is consistency. I once had a principal in my first year of teaching tell me it doesn’t matter what you do just keep doing it. It bothered me at first because I thought I was changing up activities for engagement but overtime I realized how very right she was. Keeping things the same every day lead to predictable consistent routines and with that, a calmer, well functioning classroom.
Don’t forget these Essential Classroom Routines and Expectations.
You want to re-establish personal boundaries, keeping your body to yourself. Respecting other peoples bodies and always asking before you enter someone else’s space. Essentially consent for all things, hugs, high fives, fist bumps whatever the case may be. We follow this with: how to sit on the carpet, what good listening looks like, how to line up at the door, walk down the hall, enter the gym, go to the washroom. You know the step by step for their every movement is considered and then discussed on repeat, ha!
These things will come back quickly in January. You won’t be starting from scratch, but review is necessary. I had another administrator during a casual talk over the years say to me; “You know what’s funny? Teachers often do these really great instructional approaches. They are successful and students respond. Then they tell me things are sliding, they are stressed and their tools are no longer working. I ask if they continued what was working really well and they tell me, no. The class was so well behaved they didn’t think they needed to continue to be so rigid. The funny thing to me is that because it was working, they stopped. This goes back to the consistency piece. It’s not easy. Don’t get me wrong. We have hectic schedules, hectic littles at times, we are human and we tend to flex in times of stress but it is in those times that we really need to stay on course because it’s what leads to the success of our students. The predictable, consistent routines ground us and create our success.
Life doesn’t work that way…
On the flip side, sometimes I feel like I am battling the constant interruptions that naturally occur in an Elementary school. When all I want to do is keep things the same. No thank you to that prep-payback, no thank you to that assembly, crazy hair, backwards pants, upside-down cake you say? We are good. We have a schedule. Then I remember that teaching this flexibility is equally important. Life is not the same, changes occur, interruptions happen and our students along with myself/ourselves need to become adaptable. So while I say be consistent don’t forget about giving yourself that grace. It is somewhere in between were we find the sweet spot. Okay maybe 80%-20% ratio. I am, who I am. 😉
Decide what is most important in your practice. What do your students need to know before they leave your classroom for the Summer? For me, it’s reading, early numeracy, social skills and independence. These skills are non-negotiable, when they move on to the next grade I want confidence in these areas. So I ask that as much as possible these things don’t get interrupted. Find your areas of importance and don’t be afraid to advocate for them. If you’re interested in more classroom management strategies check out my latest post on it here. Oh and don’t forget you’re Amazing! Happy New Year.
With Love, C.
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