6 tips for a solid Classroom morning routine
A new school year is starting, and while it may be tempting to jump right into content, building strong routines is paramount. Why? Well, if we want our students to operate with independence and a sense of agency in the classroom, then we need to explicitly teach them how. This teacher requires explicit modeling, direct feedback, and a gradual release of routines onto students until they are able to execute them with little to no teacher support.
The morning routine is one of the most important routines to build. The way that students enter the classroom sets the tone for the day: if students enter chaotically and without structure, their day will follow suit. Similarly, if they enter with structure and order, the day will be more likely to unfold as such.
Not sure where to start with a morning routine? Consider these six tips:
Tip 1: Be a minimalist
It’s important to start small and simple when building a solid morning routine. You can leave the complexity for later. Oftentimes, when students enter the room, they already need to manage quite a lot: they have to hang up their backpacks, grab their materials for the day, greet the teacher, sometimes even making a lunch choice or grabbing breakfast before instruction begins. If we really deconstruct this, it becomes clear that the self-management demands are rather high. Therefore, it’s important to keep the morning routine simple, ensuring students master these basic functional routines before adding morning work or any other expectations.
Tip 2: Model, model, model
I know, it probably sounds silly to model things as simple as hanging up a backpack or making a lunch choice. But we have to remember that behavior is communication. If students can, they will. If they cannot (yet), they won’t. A lot of the time, it’s really that simple. Explicit modeling ensures that students have a representation of what proficiency looks like in terms of these basic functional routines, increasing the likelihood that they both can—and will—execute routines with independence.
I recommend using Responsive Classroom’s interactive modeling for every routine you need to build. If you have time, model and practice this morning routine on the first day of school, before students even set foot in the classroom. If you don’t have time to do this, that’s okay. Reserve time later in the day to explicitly teach the morning routine, having students “practice” by bringing their backpacks and materials to the hallway, mimicking what the start of the day will feel like.
Tip 3: Establish clear boundaries
Clarity is key with routines. As Responsive Classroom recommends, you should only model what you expect. Every time we model what we don’t expect, even if it is with good intention, we lay bricks in a rickety mental model. You may consider establishing the expectations for the routine by creating a visual aid that supports students in remembering the routine. Write the steps of the routine in clear, declarative sentences that leave little room for interpretation. Consider pairing each sentence with images, too, to support students who struggle with reading.
To incorporate student voice, invite students’ feedback on the routine you’ve prepared for the class. Would they recommend any additional steps? Do they need to follow the steps in order, or can they do it in an order of their choosing? These are important questions to ask, and by creating a pathway for student feedback into the morning routine, you will increase the likelihood that students will be invested in it.
Visual aids can support students in remembering steps for a routine or choices available to them.
Tip 4: Hold students accountable
Accountability doesn’t have to be a bad word. The ways in which we hold students accountable reveals our values systems; it shows them that we care. To hold students accountable in the first weeks of school, I like to collect data on a clipboard, noting who is able to complete the routine on their own. Many teachers prefer to include a morning message in their routines. At the end of the morning message, consider providing students with a simple task to complete, such as answering a trivia question or responding to a poll. This will also provide data on which students are able to make it through the entire routine without support.
Moreover, if students do not execute the morning routine with precision, invite them to try the routine again, starting from the very beginning. Starting over might seem a bit rigid and harsh, but we must remember, the more times that students execute the routine correctly from start to finish, the more likely they are to retain the routine and commit it to muscle memory.
Tip 5: Stop fearing consequences
Most students come into our classrooms thinking consequences are only unpleasant. A consequence, however, is merely the result of an action. For instance, time to socialize could provide students with a pleasant consequence for completing their morning routine efficiently. Similarly, they may have the satisfaction of feeling organized and ready for the day. Unpleasant consequences should be natural and logical; they shouldn’t be shame-based or intended to punish students.
Remember: if they can, the will. If they can’t (yet), then it’s our job to teach them.
Proximity or teacher assistance are examples of natural consequences, enacted when students are unable to execute the morning routine with independence. This may not be preferred for some students, but perhaps the unpleasant feeling of needing teacher assistance will redirect them enough to execute the routine with accuracy and efficiency. Some students may simply need additional scaffolding, like a laminated version of the visual aid so they can check it off when they come into the classroom. While some students may express resistance to an additional tool or more support, you can both hold your boundary and make space for student voice.
“It’s important to me that you are able to complete your morning routine,” you can express to them with compassion. “What tool do you think would help you do this on your own?”
The end of the morning routine might even provide an incentive, perhaps a fun game or time to socialize. Naturally, students will not be able to engage in a game or social time if they do not complete their morning routine with precision and efficiency, offering an opportunity for redirection through a natural consequence.
Tip 6: Provide an incentive
We must be mindful when offering incentives, ensuring we temper extrinsic incentives by inviting students to reflect on positive intrinsic consequences of completing routines with independence. For instance, we can validate students’ efforts, express gratitude, and provide authentic praise when we notice their progress. The more students feel proud of themselves, the more empowered they will feel to operate with independence.
That said, a natural incentive can increase motivation, especially for students who are reluctant to engage. Say, for instance, some students want to socialize in the morning. Forcing them to delay gratification and complete their morning routine with efficiency will maximize their time to socialize, providing both you and your students with a desirable outcome. Students tend to love free choice time, too. If students finish their morning routine efficiently, consider putting out Legos or board games that keep students cognitively engaged with a preferred activity.
Once you incorporate morning work into your morning routine, you might notice that certain students do not consistently finish this work. In this case, you may want to hold off on providing the incentive until Fridays. This way, if students don’t finish all of their morning work, they will need to complete all of the week’s morning work before socializing or engaging in choice time.
Structure is healing
Some students may be resistant to a routine at the outset, but this is where the hard work of teaching comes in. We know that children crave structure, and that they thrive when the correct structures are in place. If students are especially resistant, consider explaining the importance of a routine to them, and if they are still resistant, consider inviting their feedback on how the routine can be improved.
Regardless of how you get it done, setting up a solid morning routine is sure to set you up for a structured and sustainable year of teaching.
