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- 🎓 5 Proven Classroom Routines You HAVE to Try This Year!
🎓 5 Proven Classroom Routines You HAVE to Try This Year!
Lay the Foundation for a Productive Year with These Key Routines.
Brandon
September 03, 2024
What’s Inside This Week:
The Big Picture: 5 Proven Classroom Routines
Classroom Hack: Back to School Essentials
Connecting the Dots: Links to my Favorite Educational Highlights from this Week
Happy Tuesday,
As we settle into the school year, establishing solid routines is key to creating a structured and positive learning environment. The right routines can help you set clear expectations, manage your classroom more effectively, and ensure that both you and your students are on the same page.
In this week’s edition of The Thinking Cap, we’re diving into 5 essential classroom routines that will set the tone for success all year long.
-Brandon
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🏆 5 Proven Classroom Routines to Lay the Foundation This Year
1. Daily Attendance Question
What it is:
Instead of just calling roll, ask each student a quick, fun question as you take attendance. Questions can range from “What’s your favorite book?” to “What’s one goal you have for this week?” (Link to 50 Fun Attendance Questions)
Why it works:
This routine builds rapport and encourages participation, making attendance more engaging. It also provides a daily opportunity for students to share a bit about themselves, fostering a stronger classroom community and helping you get to know your students better.
2. Digital Check-Ins
What it is:
Use a digital platform (like Google Forms or Apple Classroom) for quick daily check-ins where students can share how they’re feeling, what they’re struggling with, or what they’re excited about in the lesson. (Link to Free Daily Check-In Google Form)
Why it works:
Digital check-ins provide real-time feedback on students’ well-being and engagement, allowing you to adjust your teaching to meet their needs. This routine also encourages students to reflect on their own learning and emotional state, promoting self-awareness and helping you address any issues early on.
3. Daily / Weekly Goal Setting
What it is:
Have students set a small, achievable goal at the beginning of each week related to the class topic or their personal learning. Goals can be written down in notebooks, on sticky notes, or shared aloud with a partner. (Link to Classroom Goal Setting)
Why it works:
Goal setting fosters a growth mindset, helps students stay focused, and gives them a sense of accomplishment when goals are met. This routine also empowers students by giving them control over their learning experience, encouraging them to take ownership of their progress and set meaningful targets.
4. Open-Ended Warm-Up Questions
What it is:
Begin each class with a question or prompt related to the day’s topic that students can answer in their notebooks or on a whiteboard. These questions should be designed to activate prior knowledge and get students thinking critically about the subject matter. (Link to Fun Open-Ended Questions)
Why it works:
Warm-up questions engage students immediately and activate prior knowledge, setting a focused tone for the lesson. This routine also serves as a formative assessment tool, giving you insight into students’ understanding and helping to identify areas that may need further review or clarification.
5. Weekly Review Game
What it is:
Dedicate the last class of the week to a review session where students can ask questions, revisit difficult concepts, and prepare for upcoming assessments. This time can also be used for group discussions, peer tutoring, or interactive review games. (Link to 7 Fun Review Games)
Why it works:
Regular review sessions reinforce learning and help students retain information over time. They provide a structured opportunity for students to consolidate their knowledge, clarify any misunderstandings, and build confidence before moving on to new material, ensuring that no one falls behind.
✏️ Steal this Classroom Hack:
đź‘Ť Why I love this hack:
I’m a big fan of these classroom essentials because they make everyday tasks easier and add a bit of fun to the mix. Premium Colored Pencils and Papermate Colorful Gel Pens are great for bringing a splash of color to student projects or even just spicing up note-taking. It’s amazing how much more engaged students get when they have tools that let them be a little creative, even with the most routine assignments.
On the practical side, I love the Five Star Spiral Notebooks because they’re tough enough to last all year, which means no more falling apart notebooks halfway through the semester. The Ticonderoga Pencil Shaped Erasers are a fun little addition that makes fixing mistakes less of a chore. And let’s be honest, Clorox Disinfectant Wipes are just a must-have—keeping the classroom clean and germ-free is always a win, especially during flu season. These items are my go-tos because they’re reliable and make both teaching and learning a bit more enjoyable.
✅ Have a classroom hack that you would like to share? Reply to this email and let me know what awesome hack you’ve created. (I can even include it in next weeks newsletter - with a shout out, of course!)
đź“š Highlights from this Week:
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