In my everyday day life not only at school but after-school too I have to stay in routine for productivity.  After work each day visit my mother inlaw, she is a stroke patient with body and memory issues.  If I don't follow the same routine, glass of water, feed her veggies then protein,then dessert,then coffee, will refuse the normal next steps,  thinking we are all done.  This is similar to my prek class. In order to get things complete they need to know what comes next or things will spiral out of control fast.

Hi @Debra Moore,

Thank you for this insight. Routine and structure can indeed provide significant benefits across different populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities! I know for me, I have a dog that requires the same routine every day of getting up at a certain time, feeding him, taking him to the dog park, etc. This is true when I ran a pre-k classroom. My students had breakfast, circle time, and our morning activity of learning how to color, cut, and paste, as well as writing their names. The morning was essential for them because they were (usually) well-rested and fed, so I had their attention the most.

I would love to hear what others think and other routines that they find throughout their daily lives!

Hi @Debra,

Wow, it sounds like you have a lot of important responsibilities and routines to manage, both at work and at home. It's fascinating how similar your approach to helping your mother-in-law is to the way you handle your pre-K class. I can see how having a consistent routine can make a big difference in both situations. How do you find managing these routines helps you stay organized and focused in your daily life?

Maria Moreno

I agree that routine is so very important for children, especially in a classroom. Children thrive on knowing what is next and knowing the only thing they have to control is themselves.  My favorite classrooms to visit are those that have a routine that provides occasional wiggle room when needed to allow the kids those spontaneous learning moments.  These classrooms, in my experience, have the least negative behaviors by far! Personally, I get so busy in life that I often struggle with keeping a routine, and WHEW I feel it when those wheels start a-wobblin!

@Kanita Sirbak

You are absolutely right! The occasional wiggle room is so important in those moments when things get out of hand or when the daily routine isn't working! And yes, I feel you on the struggle to keep a routine at times; it can be hard!

Best,

Rachel

1 agree, it is very important to establish a daily routine with your tiny humans. They are so easily distracted which is what typically creates conflict. The students also have to understand just how important it is to listen to their teacher during instructions. Teaching the students the importance of safety saves you lot of time against difficult transitions.

Hi @Debra Moore,

Thank you for this post and discussion on productivity. It got me thinking about previous blog posts that we did and I wanted to share one in hopes that you and everyone else can benefit from it! It's from our Real-World Examples blog series where we tie in CLASS dimensions to real-world examples.

Let me know what you think!

https://info.teachstone.com/blog/real-world-examples-productivity