Instilling Routines
1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJV)
Let all things be done decently and in order.
God is a God of order. We can see it in the universe which He created. The stars and planets are in their proper places. Our whole body tells us how God’s mind work. Each part of the body complements another. The same is true in the Learning Center. Let all Learning Center Procedures be done in “order, regularly;” without confusion, discord, tumult. Studies have shown that learning centers (classrooms) that are organized and orderly produce high academic performance among students.
All Procedures found in our Procedures Manuals have:
1. A proper time.
2. A proper use.
3. Provide a proper place.
Without these procedures being used in the Learning Center, chaos will reign. We will fail to obey God, do things honestly, with regularity and in order.
Defining Terms
Instilling – gradually but firmly establishing an idea or attitude (especially a desirable one) in a person’s mind; gentle imparting of knowledge over a long period of time.
Routines – A sequence of actions regularly followed. The steps done to complete the schedule.
Schedules – represent the big picture—the main activities to be completed daily.
I. Importance of Learning Center Routines
“Routines are the backbone of daily classroom (learning center) life. They facilitate teaching and learning…. Routines don’t just make your life easier, they save valuable classroom (learning center) time. And what’s most important, efficient routines make it easier for students to learn and achieve more.”
– Linda Shalaway
A. Provide structure. Structure in daily activities and consistent repetition and reinforcement of routines provide opportunities to practice and strengthen skills associated with each routine.
B. Efficiency. Taking time before school starts to create routines and procedures saves you time in the long run.
C. Accountability. Routines include procedures teaching cause and effect allowing children to become accountable for their own actions and their consequences.
D. Effective Learning. Students produce achieve more and accomplish more tasks when routines are in place.
E. Confidence. Routines help children feel confident.
F. Create discipline and produce good habits.
G. Fewer Behavior Problems.
“Don’t ever ask children to do nothing. When children aren’t sure what they are supposed to be doing or they are waiting for you to tell them what to do, they will come up with something to do, and in most cases, this will be something you don’t particularly want them to do.”
– Teaching Effective Classroom Routines by Deborah Diffily and Charlotte Sassman
“When routines and procedures are carefully taught, modeled, and established in the learning center, students know what’s expected of them and how to do certain things on their own. Having these predictable patterns in place allows a supervisor to spend more time in meaningful instruction.”
II. What are the routines to be established?
A. Learning Center Procedures
1. Goal Cards
2. Goal Checking
3. Scoring
4. A.C.E. Privilege Status
B. Disciplinary Procedures
1. Detentions
2. Reprimand Procedures. Follow the One Minute Reprimand:
a. Tell your student beforehand that you are going to let them know how they are doing and in no uncertain terms.
b. Reprimand students immediately after offense
c. Tell students what they did wrong-be specific
d. Tell students how you feel about what they did wrong – and in no uncertain terms.
e. Stop for a few seconds of uncomfortable silence to let them feel how you feel.
f. Ask the student to pray: first ask forgiveness of God, then, pray for the child.
g. Shake hands, or touch them in a way that lets them know you are honestly on their side.
h. Reaffirm that you think well of them but not the performance in this situation.
i. Realize that when the reprimand is over, it’s over. Do not bring the offense up again.
C. Outside the Learning Center Routines
“The prime time in school is the first few moments in a class. If you blow these moments, you blow the impression, the sale, and the success of a class.”
– Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong
“When setting the expectations and guidelines, the most important thing is to be consistent. These rules are to be applied equally to everyone, lest students feel that there is favouritism.”
Conclusion:
According to Peter Senge in his book, Schools that Learn, “the concept that “all children can learn” is an established principle for many educational professionals.” Many research studies in both cognitive and social abilities point to the fact that any person has the potential to become an achiever if there is support and if their capabilities are valued.
Instilling routines in our learning centers give meaning. School of Tomorrow procedures develop the potential of each child and give value to each child’s capabilities. It is when we truly make the system work in our learning centers by “following the Procedures Manual” that we achieve greater student academic performance and parental satisfaction.
REFERENCES:
1. Senge, P., Cambron, N, et al; Schools that Learn Updated and Revised (2012). United States, Crown Business, a division of Random House inc., New York
2. Blanchard, Kenneth and Johnson, Spencer, The One Minute Manager (1983
3. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instill
4. https://www.bing.com/search?q=instilling+meaning&form=EDGEAR&qs=DA&cvid=a42b148c60874d99b61805210c69a382&cc=US&setlang=en-GB
5. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/routine
6. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/routine
7. https://www.studylight.org/commentary/1-corinthians/14-40.html
8. http://www.scholastic.com/browse/media.jsp?id=27 file:///C:/Users/INTEL%20NUC/Documents/edcon%202918/Establishing%20routines%20in%20the%20School%20and%20Learning%20Center/ncteb-classmang.pdf
9. https://www.lifeway.com/kidsministry/2016/10/14/the-importance-of-routine-in-classroom-management/
10. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/what-teachers-know-about-routines-and-how-they-benefit_us_58874906e4b0d96b98c1df82
11. http://www.education.gov.gy/web/index.php/teachers/tips-for-teaching/item/1651-why-classroom-management-is-important
12. https://sites.educ.ualberta.ca/staff/olenka.bilash/Best%20of%20Bilash/routines.html
13. Classroom Routines: A must!
http://specialed.about.com/cs/teacherstrategies/a/routines.htm
14. Importance of Routine & Structure for Special Needs Children
By Scott Thompson ; Updated September 26, 2017 https://howtoadult.com/importance-routine-structure-special-needs-children-22715.html
15.https://www.southernearlychildhood.org/upload/pdf/ Using_Routines_Based_Interventions_in_Early_Childhood_Special_Education_Danielle_Jennings_Mary_Frances_Hanline_Juliann_Woods.pdf