*Routine : As a course of normative, standardized actions or procedures that are followed regularly, often repetitiously. (wikipedia)

 Every evening, my daughter, Ella, puts on her pajamas, drinks milk, brushes her teeth, kisses daddy good-night; I draw the curtains in her room, play her CD(always the same one), she gets into the bed, we read a story, I kiss her good-night, turn off the lights and she sleeps. This is what exactly and with no change, happens every single night.

Why do I tell you this? These are my daughters “Routines” and she feels very uncomfortable and has trouble falling asleep when we can’t do some of the routines for any reason. I believe it’s the same in class. Routines make kids feel more comfortable, secure and prepare them to the lesson easily. In my classes, I have all routines set at the beginning of the year and we do them all through the year, everyday. This may sound a little bit boring but think about children! They love routines and for sure, learn easily when they repeat.

I start my lessons by greeting my students with a “Hello” song and then we do rhyming about the weather. There’s a monthly calendar on the wall and every day one student draws the weather, for instance if it is rainy, they draw clouds and rain drops… I have them repeat the days rhyme, which also has TPR activities. After we talk about the day, we sing the seasons chant and dance. Finally we enjoy singing the months song.

The routines can be more, like talking about the daily routines, or less. It depends on the level, energy and age of your class. Another important point is which lesson the kids had before yours. If they have been doing reading time with their homeroom teacher, then you should better let them do the routines standing, dancing and singing loud so that your lesson won’t get disturbed due to the high energy level collected during the reading time. Vice versa, if the kids are coming from P.E and you ask them to stand, dance and sing the routines, you will probably have a snoring class.

It is vital to set a comfortable and fun class that meets students’ needs and for sure routines are a good way to start…

Here are some examples:

Days:

Monday Monday;

Reach and run day

Tuesday Tuesday

Tap your shoes day

Wednesday Wednesday

Stretch and bend day

Thursday, Thursday

Twist and turn day

Friday, Friday

Jump up high day

Saturday, Saturday

Pat your body day

Sunday, Sunday

Rest and sleep day (They all pretend sleeping and we sing “Twinkle Twinkle” then “Are you sleeping?” to wake up again)

Seasons: (Make up your own dance and tune)

I like spring, I like summer

I like winter, I like fall

I like all the seasons

Summer, winter, spring and fall

Summer, winter, spring and fall

Summer, winter, spring and fall

I like all the seasons.

Crossposted in SEETA , 15 DEcember , 2010