20 Easy Classroom Routines to Simplify Your School Day
By Thomas LeGalley, National Career and College Readiness Specialist
Routine, Routine, Routine…
Greetings, fellow teachers! Ready to set up routines that will blow your students’ minds and make your life easier? Buckle up, because we’re diving into strategies that will have your students grooving to the rhythm of your classroom in no time!
Entering the Classroom
The Grand Entrance! Stand at the door and greet each student like they’re a VIP at a rock concert. High fives, fist bumps, jazz hands — whatever gets the energy flowing!
Bell Ringer Work: Have a short activity or assignment ready for students to dive into as soon as they strut in.
Materials Check: Bags in designated areas, materials in hand. We’re going for organized chaos here, folks!
Music/Ambient Noise: Play some chill background music or nature sounds. Imagine your classroom as a zen garden — minus the raked sand and bonsai trees.
Starting Class: It’s Showtime!
Review Agenda: Flash the day’s agenda on the board like it’s the latest blockbuster movie trailer.
Opening Discussion Question: Kick things off with a question that’ll get those brain gears turning.
Opening Discussion Infographic: Swap your question for an infographic. Display a colorful infographic on a relevant topic and ask students to discuss what they observe. (Find examples from our academic designers here!)
Music Stops — Eyes to the Front: When the music stops, all eyes are on you. Practice this like it’s the finale of a Broadway show.
Transitioning Between Classroom Activities: The Great Switcheroo!
Signal for Attention: Find a signal that’s as unique as a unicorn in a tutu — a chime, a clapping rhythm, or even a silent hand raise.
Clear Instructions: Be as clear as a weather report on a sunny day. No room for “Wait, what are we doing again?”
Transition Time Limits: Keep the pace snappy with a 2-minute song. When it ends, transition time is over.
Movement Paths: Create paths that are smoother than a buttered slide. No traffic jams in our learning zone!
Behavior During Class: The Main Event!
Turn-Taking: Teach turn-taking like it’s an Olympic sport. No elbowing for the gold medal here!
Active Listening: Encourage active listening with eye contact and nodding. Imagine you’re all in a super intense game of charades.
Group Work Procedures: Outline roles and responsibilities like a mission briefing. Everyone’s got a part to play in this epic quest!
Questioning Techniques: Use questioning techniques that keep them on their toes. Wait time, cold calling — it’s like a pop quiz, but way more fun!
Ending Class: The Grand Finale! (& a Few Extras)
Closure Activity: Wrap things up with a summary or reflection activity. Think of it as the encore performance.
Clean-Up Routine: Assign clean-up tasks like they’re on a secret spy mission. Stealthy and efficient!
The Safety Dance: Review and practice emergency procedures like you’re rehearsing for a disaster movie. Safety first, people!
Feedback Time: Reserve time for student feedback on routines. They’ll appreciate being part of it and take more ownership of their learning.
There you have it, folks! Setting up classroom routines doesn’t have to be dull — it can be a wild, fun-filled ride! With these tips, your classroom will run smoother than a well-rehearsed circus act. Now, go out there and rock those routines! Happy teaching, everyone!
For more tips from Thomas, check out our YouTube series:
Thomas LeGalley is the National AP/ Electives/ CTE Specialist with McGraw Hill. He has been with McGraw Hill since 2016. Currently, Thomas can be found conducting Professional Development trainings, or working with teachers delivering product presentations across the U.S. Getting meaningful teacher feedback helps to make McGraw Hill better. THANK YOU EDUCATORS!
His most recent work has focused on developing and sharing digitally-forward blended learning instruction, working closely with many teachers and McGraw Hill teams.
Thomas received his MFA from Southern Methodist University with 9 years teaching in the high school classroom. Teaching and working with educators is the joy of his life!
