Establishing Routines & Calming Students

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Establishing Routines & Calming Students
By Rebecca

I've noticed a couple of posts that mention taking a week or two weeks to get students into classroom routines. This isn't long enough!

I always review routines and rules for the first SIX weeks of school. With younger
children, it's necessary to review class routines (how to get books from the reading center, how to line up, pencil sharpener procedures, etc.) every day for several weeks.
Remember, the better you set the routines in the beginning, the more success you will have throughout the year.
The suggestions listed here are terrific. I will add that you might have students write in journals.

Yes, 1st and 2nd graders -- even low performing ones -- can write for a sustained period of time! Remember to set those expectations for writing: everyone writes for X minutes (5 minutes in the beginning), and set up a system for everyone to have an opportunity to share their entry at least once per week. Shy kids can opt not to share -- but once they see others sharing, they will become eager to share! Be sure to set expectations for this sharing: 1) Comments should ask for more information to clarify or restate a part of the sharing that is interesting to the audience member, and 2) Being respectful of others is a form of good manners.