Disrupting the System: 5 Benefits to Structured Routine
- kendalltheile95
- Nov 19, 2023
- 6 min read
Have you ever taught school on a day where there was a school program, seasonal party or a change to the schedule? Have you rearranged your school schedule because of standardized testing or half days for parent conferences? When you did, was your class completely off the wall and out of sorts?
If so, you're not alone, because that was my classroom on Veterans Day, just over a week ago. We had our school program in the morning, and it was absolutely lovely! Children sang songs, veterans were recognized, acknowledgement and appreciation was shared and Taps was played. It was a beautiful way to recognize those who have served and continue to serve our country. With that said, this altered our schedule and changed our regular routine. The result? System disruption!
Holiday programs, seasonal parties, half days of school, anything that strays from a normal school schedule, it organically disrupts the system. Children rely heavily on structure and routine so that they may function at their best. When that structure and routine is taken away or altered, change occurs and it disrupts a child's norm. Behavior gets thrown off, kids suddenly forget how to do school or follow our expectations, work doesn't always get done and the day feels even more exhausting than a normal one. At least, that's how I've felt in the past.
Now, this post isn't me complaining about the additional schedule changes we have throughout the school year, the parties we throw or the testing we conduct. Rather, it's a way to reinforce the importance of maintaining a systematic routine in your classroom, outside of these scheduling exceptions. Structured routines at school provide many benefits to a student or classroom population. They also provide benefits to those outside of a classroom setting. Let's expand on these 5 benefits and see what can come of your own structured routine:
Safe and Secure
Back in the 1940s, American psychologist Abraham Maslow constructed an idea over what humans require to be successful in life. Known as the "Hierarchy of Needs" (former ed majors, this rings a bell), this pyramid structure represents the priority of human need from basic to complex. Basic needs, such as food, water, security and shelter are essential to a human's existence, hence the foundational piece of the pyramid. If these needs aren't met, then other needs and wants can't be obtained further up on the pyramid, such as social friendships, self-esteem and creativity. For students at school, they need to be fed multiple times a day, provided a source of hydration, and a warm, dry place to learn. To do this, we serve breakfast and lunch at school, and even snack for our little learners. Kids have access to water in classrooms and around the building and we create a cozy learning environment for our kids to grow. This foundational routine of our school is repeated daily, as the students will predict and know they'll get fed and have a safe place to come to everyday. Their basic needs will be met, which in turn will help maintain that systematic process. As a result, kids will feel safe and secure.
2. Increase in Productivity
Following a consistent routine also promotes productivity within the learning environment. The first routine in my classroom each day is unpacking our belongings. Kids put coats and backpacks away in their cubbies, they turn in their take home folder into my basket and they make their lunch choice for the day. Then, they sit down at their seat and complete the morning activity. This routine happens every single day, no matter what. By getting the kids organized as they come in the door, they are automatically setting themselves up for success the rest of the day. They know they've put away their belongings until later (backpacks and coats), given me what I need (folder), and confirmed their choice of lunch for the day. That one in particular ties back to the first benefit of structured routine, which guarantees their need for food will be met.
Another highlight in our classroom is our station time throughout the day. We do three different stations that target different skills: reading, math & social skills. Kids know they go to one station for each skill everyday, and they'll rotate through each station as the week goes on. In order to have these stations run smoothly, there is trial and error, discussion of expectations, reteaching of expectations, etc. We had to build up to the station routine, but once we did, it was amazing! Kids integrated their station time into their daily routine, they knew how to get started once they got to their station and they recognized station work as a productive, learning time. Trust me, on days we don't get to a certain station time, they make sure to let me know! It's a prime example of how important a structured routine is to a student at school.
3. Academic Success
As educators, our primary goal is to expand the minds of our learners and help prepare them for life-long learning and success. In order to acheive this, we have to intentionally create ways for students to be successful and confident in their skill set. To summarize, kids need time to practice and apply what they've learned. Whether it's morning work, station work, or just a daily activity, we provide opportunities for our students to practice, practice, practice! In Kindergarten, we prioritize how to write letters and numbers. To ensure kids maintain these skills after they are taught, we incorporate letter and number writing into our daily routine. Each student has their own set of materials to practice these skills, and it's accessible to them throughout the day. Let's say they get done with a test or activity earlier than others. They can get out their writing practice while they wait for others to finish. Just five minutes of skill practice everyday can lead to huge growth and academic achievement.
Structured routine also enhances the STRUCTURE of academics. Routine helps with smoother transitions, such as cleaning up a specific activity before moving onto another one. My students know that after reading stations are cleaned up, they're supposed to get ready for our phonics lesson. They clean up their stations, go back to their seat and make sure their body shows "good listening." After lunch, my students know that we'll have our daily math calendar lesson, so they put lunch materials away and find their sit spot on the carpet. They know what to expect and they anticipate this structure naturally. Smoother transition time gives us more time for active learning.
4. Minimize Distractions & Behaviors
Not only does structured routine create more effective transitions, but it also helps minimize distractions and behavior. While unstructured time can spur creativity and exploration, it can also
lead to "down time," off task behaviors or unfocused activity. Teaching students to be proactive in how the school day runs helps divert the behaviors we don't want to see. When kids in my class get done with their morning work earlier than others, they go to my "Choice Board." This board provides them with a couple of choices they get to pick from, such as play doh time, reading a book, coloring, handwriting practice, motor skill boxes, etc. Kids pick one of the activities to complete quietly at their seat, so as not to cause disruption to those that are working. This daily routine promotes a sense of choice, while also reminding students that they can't do whatever they want while the other kids finish. Kids learn how to pick a productive, respectful and engaging activity. This learned expectation becomes part of their normal routine in the morning, and it proactively prevents unwanted behaviors and distractions from occuring.
5. Better Mental/Emotional Health
While we push our students to acheive academically, we also prioritize the whole child. School provides a place of security and safety, motivation and drive. This isn't targetted toward just academics, but also a child's mental, physical and emotional well-being.
Through regimented routine, we as adults feel more in control of what we are doing. Children feel the same way, and it helps them feel more regulated emotionally. When our school schedule changes and we don't do our daily math calendar, station work, behavior dollar cash in, etc, the kids KNOW. They lose some of the excitement and anticipation they had prior to the schedule change, and sometimes it leads to sadness, tears, frustration, the works. While this does lead to a great learning experience about not always getting what we want (we all know this chat), having those routines in place keeps the kids happy and eager for school activities.
Maintaining a structured routine also helps reduce stress and anxiety in the classroom setting. If kids are thrown off their routine and they don't know what to expect, they get stressed out because their day doesn't feel "right." Their patience wears thin, certain activities are more daunting, and kids can feel less inclined to do their work. I know I also get stressed when I don't follow my lesson plans the way I anticipate or my schedule is rearranged. I feel frustrated when I don't get to an activity and my anxiety can build up about missing an important lesson that my kids need. Following a structured plan allows me and my students to feel successful about our day and appreciative of a hard day's work.
Prevent a disruption to your own classroom system by implementing a structured routine. You'll find so many benefits to this shift, and you'll be glad you did it! Need specific ideas about how to incorporate a structured routine? Check out some of the sources below! Don't worry though, I'll share out a blog post with my own tips & tricks soon!
Sharing Perspective. Encouraging Perseverance.
~Kendall
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