Establishing clear and effective classroom procedures is essential for creating a structured and productive learning environment. When students know what is expected of them and understand the routines and procedures in place, it helps to minimize disruptions and maximize instructional time. In this blog post, we will explore practical strategies and tips for teachers on how to teach classroom procedures effectively.
Start with a Clear Vision:
Before diving into teaching specific procedures, it’s crucial to have a clear vision of what you want your classroom to look like. Consider the flow of activities, student interactions, and your expectations for behavior and academic engagement. By having a vision in mind, you can align your procedures accordingly and communicate your expectations clearly to your students.
If you aren’t quite sure about your vision yet, drop your name and email below, and I’ll send you my First Day of School Cheatsheet. This document will walk you through how to identify which classroom procedures need to be taught on the first day of school.
Introduce Classroom Procedures Gradually:
Introduce classroom procedures gradually, especially at the beginning of the school year or when starting a new unit. Overwhelming students with a long list of procedures all at once can be counterproductive. Instead, introduce a few procedures at a time, allowing students to practice and master each one before moving on to the next. This approach ensures better retention and understanding of expectations.
I like to introduce classroom procedures as they are needed. For example, on the first day of school, I know that we will be doing a morning activity, going to recess, going to lunch, and cleaning up at the end of the day. All of these procedures will be taught before they need to happen, so I will make sure that these are in my first day of school plan.
If we aren’t starting our intervention groups for a few weeks, I won’t teach those procedures until the time comes closer. Students need time to practice the classroom procedures that you teach them. If the procedure is irrelevant for a few weeks, students will not have time to practice. This lack of practice can lead to frustration. My advice, wait until it is needed to teach the procedure, and then practice, practice, practice!
Use Explicit Instruction:
When teaching procedures, use explicit instruction techniques. Clearly explain and demonstrate each step of the procedure, highlighting both what students should do and what they should avoid. Model the correct behavior, provide examples and non-examples, and engage students in discussions to deepen their understanding.
4 Step Process of Teaching Classroom Procedures and Routines
When teaching classroom procedures, I always follow this 4 step process. It ensures that all of my classroom procedures are taught explicitly, and students are given adequate instruction and time to practice in order to master them.
- Explicitly Teach the Classroom Procedure
Teach every single thing that you expect of your students. Walk them through the classroom routine step-by-step. Be explicit about what this routine should both look like and sound like. As you do this, write down your expectations on a poster or chart like this. Post these in your classroom somewhere to refer back to with students.
2. Model the exact behavior you expect.
This modeling should be done by both you and your students. First, you should model exactly what you want the classroom routine or procedure to look and sound like. Then, have a student model this, replicating exactly what you did. Lastly, have a student model the incorrect behavior. (Pro tip: You know that student that you can pick out on the first day of school? The student that has already shown their ability to push limits and act out? Choose that student to model the non-example of the classroom procedure. They will be good at this, and it will get it out of their system.)
3. Give plenty of time for practice.
After you have done the modeling, allow all of your students to practice the procedure. For example, if you are working on the classroom procedure of coming in to class in the morning, go through the entire procedure with your whole class multiple times. Praise them for the good things they are doing, and give corrective feedback for behaviors that don’t match your expectations. You will practice this several times while teaching the procedure or routine, and then you will continue to practice it each and every time you need to complete that routine each day.
4. Review and debrief.
After you go through the first three steps of this process, it’s important to review and debrief the classroom procedure with your students. Have your students repeat the steps of the procedure. Talk about why you do it. Debrief about what went well while you were practicing, and what you could improve next time your practice. These debrief sessions are critical!
Reinforce Classroom Procedures Consistently:
Consistency is key to ensuring that procedures become ingrained in students’ routines. Reinforce procedures consistently by providing gentle reminders, praise, and corrective feedback when necessary. Consistency helps students internalize the expectations and makes them more likely to follow the procedures consistently.
Most of the time, this reinforcement can be done quickly. A simple statement of “What is our expectation for this” can correct student behavior fairly quickly. Other times it may take more practice.
For example, my hallway expectations were for my class to walk in a line and us be quiet enough that no one would even know we were in the hall. When my students couldn’t make it to our destination without sounds or if they took up the whole hallway, we would walk back to class. When we got back to class we would have a discussion about what went wrong and how to do better. Then, we would line back up and try again. In my experience, students don’t like to have to go back to class. It make them late for wherever we were headed and it is annoying. Hold strong to your expectations and reinforce consistently!
Practice, Practice, Practice:
Give students ample opportunities to practice the procedures. Role-playing activities, interactive discussions, and real-life scenarios can help students understand how the procedures apply to different situations. Encourage students to participate actively and provide them with constructive feedback to refine their execution. Classroom management frustrations usually arise because of a lack of practice at the beginning of the year. Practice every classroom routine until your students could do it in their sleep.
Make Classroom Procedures Visual:
Utilize visual aids to enhance students’ understanding of procedures. Create visual charts, posters, or infographics that outline the steps involved in each procedure. Display these visuals prominently in the classroom, making them easily accessible for students to reference. Visual cues serve as powerful reminders and assist students in internalizing the procedures more effectively.
As I teach classroom procedures, we discuss what each one looks like and sounds like. I write these descriptions down on posters and hang them up in my classroom. This allows me to easily refer back to our classroom procedures when we need to review or reinforce them.
Foster Student Ownership:
Empower students by involving them in the establishment and review of classroom procedures. Solicit their input on creating procedures, seek their suggestions for improvement, and allow them to contribute to the decision-making process. When students feel a sense of ownership, they are more likely to adhere to the procedures willingly.
Regularly Review and Revisit Classroom Procedures:
Classroom procedures are not one-time lessons; they require periodic review and reinforcement. Regularly review the established procedures to reinforce learning and address any gaps or misunderstandings. Periodically remind students of the expectations and offer refresher lessons as needed. Encourage students to provide feedback and suggest improvements to the procedures. By involving them in the process, they feel a sense of ownership and are more likely to adhere to the rules they helped create.
Teaching classroom procedures is an ongoing process that requires patience, persistence, and adaptability. By defining expectations, introducing procedures gradually, modeling and practicing, reinforcing positive behavior, and reviewing and refining, you can create an environment that fosters student engagement and success.
Remember, a well-structured classroom allows both you and your students to focus on the joy of learning and growth. So, invest time and effort into establishing effective procedures, and watch your classroom flourish.
Still in need of help with which classroom procedures to teach on the first day of school? Drop your name and email below and I’ll send you my FREE First Day of School Cheatsheet straight to your inbox!