Routines. The importance of routines in an elementary Special Education classroom is like no other. If they are not in place, it is just a disaster waiting to happen.
The Importance Of Routines For A Child
A routine is defined as “the sequence of actions that is regularly followed.” They keep us knowing what is going to happen next and when done enough times can put part of our lives on autopilot.
Routines are essential for children because they provide security.
They give children less space to worry about the ‘unknown,’ which is one of the greatest fears of people in general. As children grow and absorb new information from life daily, they can easily get stressed by it.
Having routines helps alleviate this stress and enjoy this process instead.
Routines also help provide independence.
Once children learn a routine, they don’t need to be told what to do anymore. And once they get really good at it, they don’t need prompting either.
Having this type of independence while doing what they know they should be creates such a feel-good moment for the child.
Routines should take place in all environments with a child’s life. Usually, this means within the home and childcare/school environments.
Importance Of Routines And Procedures In The Classroom
A set schedule within a classroom is vital.
Just like in any other part of life, children crave security and structure. Plus it helps the day to go smooth (well as smooth as possible in a Special Education classroom).
This is again why there is such an importance of schedules and routines at school too.
Beginning of the Day Routine
I love having a beginning of the day routine in my Special Education classroom for my students who need behavior support.
Students are on a check-in/out with me and use daily sheets to track behavior throughout the day. I have developed a great morning procedure with them. They love that it is predictable and gives them a moment longer to get ‘ready’ for school. I love that they are connecting with me as well as getting back to their general education classrooms quickly.
This morning routine looks like this:
- Greet me and answer a question. This question can be about what they ate for dinner, a favorite of theirs, or some silly this or that question. Such a great way to connect in a positive way to start the day off. It is also a great time for them to tell me something that is bothering them or for me to let them know of a special event in the day (such as testing).
- Go to their daily sheets drawer and pull out a new sheet.
- Clip a new sheet to a clipboard located right next to the drawers.
- Take the pencil out of their drawer and write the date on the top of the new sheet. There is even a calendar right next to all the drawers. No need to look around or ask what the date is.
- Put their pencil back in the drawer and leave the room.
I also use this morning time to see how regulated (or not) they are.
If a student’s mind or body isn’t ready to learn, we do what needs to be done to get them there. Sometimes this is a calming break (think coloring or reading). Other times they have so much energy – some time on the treadmill helps with this.
Again, having this time to connect and get them ready to learn shows the importance of routines in the classroom.
The Importance of Classroom Routines Throughout the Day
There is also the importance of classroom routines throughout the day.
For the Special Education classroom, this consists of procedures for reading or math pull time as well as what happens when the teacher needs to give their attention to a struggling student.
Side note: if you are struggling with student behaviors and need an easy, step-by-step process to write a behavior plan, tell me where to send it to below and I’ll email this easy-to-follow checklist directly to your inbox. And make sure to check out this blog post all on functional behavioral assessments as well as this post on behavior intervention plans.
Student supply bins and binders are essential to providing this structure in my classroom.
Each student has a supply bin that holds all their things. Students know to grab this at the beginning of each learning session. It is a big time saver because students are not getting up during the short lesson time to get any supplies.
This leads to more learning time and focused attention to the learning.
Binders for each student are also in their supply bin.
These binders are filled with worksheets that reinforce IEP goals. I make sure it is a mixture of things that are independent and things that will stretch their thinking a bit.
Having these binders is essential to help the classroom run smoothly when a student’s behavior spurs up. Having this prepared allows me to work with the other student while learning is still taking place during instructional time.
While this isn’t the most ideal situation, any learning (even a review of a previously taught concept) is better than nothing. If another teacher or aide is able to lend a hand, all I have to do is given them the binder and tab I want the student to work under. It makes the continuation of learning a breeze when changing from one teacher to another.
Pro-tip: use binder dividers to divide up and tab worksheets into different categories. Use a pencil to write on the first binder divider what is under each tab. As IEP goals change, it is easy to just erase and switch out the work.
More resources on the importance of consistent routines for children’s development check these out:
Team Santero – some great ideas for morning-specific routines you can easily implement in your classroom today.
Meeting Their Needs – if you are looking for a mini-lesson to get some buy-in with kids on routines, check out this post made for kids.
Aha! Parenting – great article for parents on why are routines important in early childhood.
The Problem Solving Teacher – here are some fabulous ideas of even more classroom routines that you can start implementing today for a smooth running classroom.
Happy Teaching!
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