Saturday, January 19, 2013

Saturday Sayings: Routine



I love routine. I follow the same routine every day. Coffee. Granola Bar. Check e-mail. My Saturday morning routine is pretty much the same, but more fun because it extends longer into the morning in my pajamas. If something happens to change my morning routine I just feel off all day. 

Routine is a wonderful way of organizing learning. Have you ever skipped or forgotten a part of your daily routine? Who notices first? It is always the same student in my room who pipes up with, "but we didn't do calendar today." Routine reduces stress and brings comfort and assurance to children. In a world of constant change and sometimes even turmoil children need the comfort of routine in their lives. 

Busy parents may find it difficult to establish routine at home but the benefit to their children is worth the effort. I have seen the effects that routines have had on students who struggle with learning disabilities or with ADHD first hand. Though it is difficult to be consistent with routine for a parent who may also struggle with undiagnosed ADHD, it can benefit the long term relationship of the parent and child, as together they are able to build a firm educational foundation to carry them into the future. 

Back in the classroom, routine is the rhythm of the classroom music that students look forward to each day. We get to be the composer of a world of learning. What kind of music are you composing? Is it a lullaby or a jig? Hopefully it is a little of both or something in between! 

Until last year, I never posted my daily schedule. I have found writing it on my white board and erasing each activity helps students anticipate what comes next and gives them a sense of time. My owlets are becoming expert clock readers. They know 10:00 because of snack and 11:30 because that's lunch time! 
How would environment show a child they are valued? The time and thought you put into each piece in your classroom are a reflection of your thinking towards them. As you carefully place anchor charts, posters, students work and learning tools into place they say that you care about your students just as creating an inviting Family Room show your family you care about them!

My classroom sometimes looks a little chaotic to outsiders. My students know where all their "tools" are. I encourage them to use the Word Wall, the number chart, the calendar, math manipulatives, and of course books! My goal will always be to try to be more organized, but I accept my desk as it is a little like my brain sometimes cluttered to overflowing, sometimes messy, sometimes even neat and tidy!
I love Saturday Sayings. Thank you, Tammy for allowing me to join you this month! I can't wait to come to your place to find out what you are saying today!

12 comments:

  1. Routines create culture and community as well. I completely agree. I think everyone needs to know he/she can count on something. When we set a routine, we give ourselves that "thing" to count on. Thanks for the reminder. Now I'm off to do my own Saturday Sayings.

    Kimberley
    First in Maine

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  2. I am a routine person too! And I believe it is important to our students. The time it takes to teach these routines and procedures pays off! :)
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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  3. I love routine. My daily unteachery life is filled with them. My classroom life is as well, and it sure does help keep us moving in the right direction. I've read a handful of quotes that talk about how well things will go in January and later because of the routines that were established in September. Routines take time to establish but it's sure worth it. They are the backbone like your quote said. Thank you for sharing it. It says it perfectly. I'm so glad you joined me again today!

    ❀ Tammy
    Forever in First

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  4. Routines make life so much easier with little ones. I dislike days that don't allow us to follow our normal routine and so do my children. Thanks for permission to have that crazy, messy desk of mine. I try to do so many things in a day ~ the poor desk is the last thing to get any time.
    Maria
    First Grade Carousel

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  5. Great quote Jenny! I love my personal routines! They keep me centered and calm. That is what they do for children as well! My son had attention problems and routines were so helpful at school and at home. Routines made daily life manageable and helped him focus on one thing at a time. I enjoyed your post!
    LiteracyMinute

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  6. Great quote. I couldn't agree more. I'm so routined in the classroom. Not as much with own personal life. But my students are so used to our routine if a sub comes and tries to change it they have meltdowns. I think it's so important for kids. I'm hoping when I have some kids of my own, I'm able to stay better on a routine at home.
    Ms. Kerri and her Krazy Klass

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  7. Super post, Jenny. I try really hard to keep the same routines in the classroom but sometimes I just need to shake it up:)) I always apologize to the kids though :) I always always always wrote an agenda on the board and the kids loved it, yet this year I haven't been doing it and I have no explanation for why not. Monday morning I'm putting that agenda back up!
    Have a great weekend.
    Barbara
    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers Blog Designs

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  8. Routine...a teacher's best friend! Part of my love/hate relationship with Fridays has to with the lack of routine.

    Laurie
    Chickadee Jubilee

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  9. I like your idea of writing the day's agenda on the board. I think it's great that it turns them into time-tellers :)
    Sara

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  10. Yes! I also feel "off" if my morning routine is disturbed. I wake at 5:30 to enjoy coffee, protein bar, and books. By 6:isn I am ready to begin the process of transitioning to work. If I hit the snooze button too much, my day is off to a rocky start!

    My students notice if I haven't changed the schedule chart from the day before. They certainly keep me on my toes!
    ReadWriteSing

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  11. Such a true quote! I love it. It's hard to practice, practice those routines, but it does pay off! The best parts of the day for me are definitely the ones with strong routines. :)

    Kate
    Second Grade Sparkle

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  12. I went to school yesterday, to clean up my room because it had gotten out of control. I NEED routine, I feel nervous with out it. I am your newest follower.

    Terri
    The First Grade Princess

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