Like all classrooms, my classroom is full of hidden routines. There is even a routine when a routine is non-existent – if there is no routine regarding the proper use of the bathroom, then it becomes typical to find students roaming the hallways after “Bathroom Break” is announced! Here is a list of some of the routines that occur in my classroom:

· Turning in papers: Students place all papers in Mrs. McKinney’s tray on her desk. Sometimes all the papers get mixed up! I would prefer to have a separate tray for each subject.
· Transitions between subjects: the diverse group of students in my class makes transitions difficult. Someone is always leaving or coming back in, and getting the entire class to focus on a new subject is difficult. Mrs. McKinney usually allows a bathroom break and then tells the students what materials to get out for the next lesson.
· Arrival: When students come to class in the morning, they immediately begin work on their problem solving for the day. A new problem is posted each morning and students solve the problem in their problem-solving notebook (go figure!). Periodically, their notebooks are collected and graded.
· Lining up and going from one place to another: This is not always necessary at Beech since they are usually not going to far. Typically, the students who have their materials put away are asked to line up and then they proceed to walk, which turns to a gallop and then full-paced run, down the hall.
· Need help/contribute to class discussion: Students raise their hands, but often they speak out.
 

The three routines that I chose to analyze were the ways that students arrive in the mornings and start the day, using the restroom, and housekeeping routines.

· Arrival/Starting the day: As stated above, students arrive and being by putting away their books and notebooks in their desks and then tucking their bookbags in their lockers. Ideally, the students would all sit down and immediately begin work on their problem solving. However, that is why I chose this routine! It does not work that way! Generally, the early morning is a time of chaos – coming, going, asking, and talking. Some days, the children quickly get on task; others are not as easy. Seeing this in the schools has made me realize how important a morning routine really is. It is important to have ways of focusing the students on their schoolwork, taking attendance, and answering students’ questions. The entire school uses problem solving in the morning. Mrs. McKinney requires students to put their unneeded materials away so that they do not take up more space at their desk and create temptations (fingernail polish, stickers, toys). Mrs. McKinney’s routine typically runs smoothly, but I would like to modify it somewhat in my classroom. As a new teacher, I feel that I need more control, and would add several other aspects to give me a sense of sanity!! I would most definitely have a task for students to complete each day, but I think I would change the subject occasionally. I would create a system so that students could signify their own attendance and/or lunch count. I’ve seen several ideas that teachers use like hanging clothespins on a strip of paper at the door and the students take them off when they arrive and place them in the “buy lunch” or “ brought lunch” category. A student helper could then count for you and take the lunch count to the lunchroom. (There is no need for this at Beech.) Second, I would devise some sort of system for students to let me know that they have questions about something, the day, or their homework without being bombarded with students. I would rather make my way around the room to talk to students individually.
 

· Housekeeping: Everyday, Mrs. McKinney has students clean up the floor around their desk. I picked this routine because it always runs smoothly and the floor always gets clean! About once a week, Mrs. McKinney lets students clean out their desks and lockers. It is amazing what you piles up in there in just a day! This helps students to get rid of old “stuff” and to be better organized. Students also help straighten up the room everyday – they put materials away, straighten the bookshelf, clean up the computer desk, etc. This helps the teacher quite a bit because they do not have to stay after school and clean up. I also think that allowing students to help with housekeeping makes them feel like they are part of the classroom. In my classroom, I would like to “hire” my students to perform different jobs. Students would fill out a job application and I would interview if necessary! Occasionally, students could seek out new job opportunities! I really think that this system would give students a “stake” in their class.
 

· Bathroom breaks: Mrs. McKinney schedules bathroom breaks after almost every subject. Due to previous misbehavior, students can only use the restroom two at a time. Recently, Mrs. McKinney has put a halt to using the bathroom during class because the policy was being abused. I chose this routine because it is always difficult to decide what to do about “being excused.” On one hand, children need to be able to use the bathroom whenever they need to, but at the same time, they cannot just want to get out of class. In my classroom, I would have many breaks, but also allow students to have several bathroom passes that can be used each week.

Here are some other classroom routines that I would like to try in my classroom:

· Assignment sheets: In third grade, I had the best classroom manager for a teacher, even though I did not know that then! At the beginning of the year, she modeled (over and over) how to write down our assignments on our assignment sheet. Our assignment sheet included every bit of homework we had, the date, and the due date for all assignments. When we finished an assignment, we would turn it in to the assistant who would stamp the sheet with a groovy rubber stamp that the student of the day got to pick out. Mrs. Pitner is certainly on my top ten list!
· Writing the schedule on the board: The students in my class go crazy when they do not know what subject or activity is next. To help alleviate some of this stress (for students and teachers) I would write the schedule on the board everyday so students know what is happening.
· Turing in/Giving back Assignments: As stated earlier, I would have a tray for each for each subject so the papers do not get mixed up and I have to spend time sorting them out everyday. Also, I would have my students label each assignment with the subject, page, date, etc. (Yet another idea from Mrs. Pitner!) To give pack papers, I would prepare a folder for each student each week to take home to their parents. Included in the folder would be the weeks graded assignments, tests, work to revise and a checklist of assignments received and not received. Parent’s Signature required! (Again, Mrs. Pitner!)
· Assignment Book: One or two students would be responsible for writing the day’s assignments in the assignment book. Extra worksheets or handouts would be included in this book. Children who were out or lost an assignment could quickly glance at the book without depending on the teacher for help.