Creating Classroom Routines for Success!

There are many routines that you will find as you progress through the first days of school that will be unique to your environment.  I figure that I might be able to help on the big ones!

1. How to Come into the Classroom

     This is a good one to walk through yourself.  There is no need for a parent to enter the classroom in the morning.  Encourage parents to say goodbyes outside of the environment. 

• The child should have their school bag ready to hang outside or inside as they walk in.
• Some teachers like a good morning handshake as the child enters calmly. 
• The child should know where to place their lunchbox.
• Then straight to work.  Dr. Montessori says that nothing should stop a child from entering the classroom and starting his work.  If a temporary group time is utilized after the children enter the room, it really should only be for the first few days of school.

2.  How to Leave the Classroom for Dismissal
     Leaving is equally as important as entering! 

• I always had the rule that if a child wanted to take their papers home at the end of the day, they had to remember their school bag.  This was a great introduction to responsibility and natural consequences.  If they forgot their bag, nothing was taken home.  They could try again the next day and their papers were safe at school.  This also kept the parking lot clean of metal inset papers that always fell from their little hands!!
• Once the children had their bags and papers, we sat at the group circle and did a fast activity like rhyming word round robins or clapping syllables.
• Then, I called the children, one at a time, to line up at the door.  The line should be orderly and quiet-ish (takes a while to nail that one down) before you leave.  Stay put until the group can stand nicely and tell them you are waiting for them to show you they are ready to leave by quieting their voices and bodies.

3. How to Keep Track of the Children in Outdoor Environment

     If you are lucky enough to have an Outdoor Environment (ODE), you will need a system to keep track of who is out there.  I have used a few different systems and will add another I saw a teacher use this year.  The teacher outside will need some kind of indicator whether the children has been invited out.  This would be an apron or necklace.

• Necklaces-hang them by the door when the ODE is open.  You will need to explain that they cannot go out without a necklace.  Hopefully the teacher out there will rotate children often throughout the morning.
• Aprons-same concept as the necklaces.
• A chart with a picture of a tree, symbolizing the ODE, that the children clip a clothespin with their name on when the teacher invites them outside.

     It is a nice idea to keep note of which children are using the ODE to make sure that all are having that opportunity.

4. How to Take Snack

    I liked to have a two child snack table.  They really enjoyed the company and didn't get too silly.  Try placing a picture menu on the snack table of how much of each item to take for snack. 

The steps to take snack:

• Have the child put on the snack apron.
• Wash hands.
• Sit nicely and show the child how to use the menu and serve themselves.  Explain using good manners at the table.
• When they are done, show them to wash the plate.
• Dry the plate and replace on the snack table.
• Fold and hang the apron on the chair back.

Next Time....Group/Circle/Gathering Time!  How to do it, when to do it, and how to plan for it!