Five Expert Tips for Solid Routines and Procedures (That Actually Stick)
Five Expert Tips for Solid Routines and Procedures (That Actually Stick)
Let me just say it: if you’ve ever found yourself re-teaching a routine for the millionth time in October, you are not alone.
You laid it all out in August. You modeled. You practiced. You even made the anchor charts. But somehow, things unraveled.
The line is suddenly crooked. The transition that used to take two minutes now drags on for seven. And the classroom vibe? Not exactly the calm, purposeful energy you envisioned.
So what happened?
After years in the classroom and coaching hundreds of teachers, I’ve seen the same three reasons crop up over and over again—and friend, they’re totally fixable.
Why Most Routines Don’t Stick (And How to Shift That)
Before we dive into the five expert tips, let’s talk about why routines fall apart in the first place. Because once we understand the why, the how becomes a whole lot easier.
1. They’re not truly mandatory.
Here’s the truth: if a routine isn’t something you’re willing to monitor, revisit, and reteach with consistency—it’s not mandatory. And if it’s not mandatory? It’s optional.
And optional routines don’t work.
We think we’re being flexible. We tell ourselves, “It’s fine, they kind of did it.” But what we’re really doing is sending mixed messages. And mixed messages create confusion, not clarity.
As education researcher Robert Marzano has shown, clear expectations and consistent enforcement are foundational to effective classroom management. When expectations shift, students disengage—and routines lose their power.
2. There’s no strong community to support them.
Routines don’t exist in a vacuum—they exist within a community. And if students don’t feel like they belong, if they don’t trust you or each other, they’re far less likely to commit to shared systems.
According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), predictable environments and routines promote emotional regulation, reduce anxiety, and build belonging—all essential ingredients for a thriving classroom.
3. Expectations are inconsistent.
Some days we expect excellence. Other days, we let it slide. And on days we’re exhausted? We don’t even look.
It’s not intentional—but it happens. And our students notice.
Consistency is one of the most powerful tools we have. When routines are upheld daily, they become habits. When they’re not, students write their own rules.
So… what do we do about it?
Let’s get into it.
The Five Expert Tips That Make Routines Stick
These five tips will help you build routines that protect your time, create classroom calm, and support student success from day one—all while preserving your energy and avoiding burnout.
1. Know the Five Routines You’ll Die On
You can’t manage everything with full energy. That’s a fast track to burnout.
So instead—choose your Top 5 Core Routines. The ones that truly matter. The ones that shape how your classroom functions.
For me, my five were always:
Morning routine
Transitions
Asking for help
Getting materials
Community Circle
These routines were sacred. I taught them with intention. I monitored them with care. And I didn’t move on until they were solid.
Once those routines became second nature, I added new ones—but never all at once. Think of it like scaffolding. Master the essentials before you layer on more.
🛠 Want help getting started? Download my free “Top 5 Routines Planning Sheet” to map out your must-haves and start strong.
2. Don’t Just Tell—Model, Practice, and Celebrate
Routines aren’t learned by telling. They’re learned through modeling, practicing, and reflecting—just like any other skill.
Here’s the flow I swear by:
Model it yourself. Show them exactly what it looks like. Narrate your thinking.
Let students model. Pick a few to try it. Then debrief as a class.
Celebrate what worked. Even if it wasn’t perfect. Call out specific wins.
This builds ownership. And it sets the tone that routines aren’t rules to follow—they’re systems we create together.
🎯 Research backs this up: According to Dr. Anita Archer’s work on explicit instruction, modeling followed by guided practice is one of the most effective ways to build student fluency and long-term retention—yes, even for classroom procedures.
3. Use Multiple Modalities to Teach
If you’ve said it once and they didn’t get it, it doesn’t mean they’re not listening—it might mean they need it in a different format.
So when you teach a routine, hit it from all angles:
Say it out loud
Model it visually
Write it down (steps on the board or a visual chart)
Anchor it with a co-created poster
Practice it daily
This helps all learners access the routine and reduces the number of times you’ll have to stop and re-explain later.
Pro tip? Keep the visuals posted. They become quiet reminders students can refer to independently—and they reinforce student ownership.
4. Practice Again (and Again... and Again)
One-and-done isn’t enough.
Routines are like muscles—they strengthen with repetition.
So when things fall apart (and they will!), don’t panic. Don’t internalize it. Just say, “Let’s reset.”
Then:
Reflect with your class. What went wrong?
Celebrate what went well.
Reteach or model again.
Try it again—this time with clarity.
I’ve had to re-teach routines in October. In February. Even in April.
The difference? I didn’t ignore it. I adjusted.
The earlier you catch the breakdown, the faster you can course-correct.
5. Time It. Track It. Tighten It.
This one’s a game-changer: Time your routines.
When students know there’s a target, they move with more intention. And when routines become more efficient, you get your time back—literally.
Let’s say your morning routine takes 10 minutes. But it could take 4. That’s 6 minutes of lost instruction every day. Multiply that by five days? That’s a half hour a week.
Over a month, that’s two full hours of teaching time you’ve lost. Just from one routine.
So I turn it into a challenge.
“Today it took us 4 minutes. Think we can hit 3.5 tomorrow?”
They love it. It’s team-oriented. It’s goal-driven. And it helps anchor that sense of we move together with purpose.
Monitoring What Matters
At the end of the day, routines are about more than classroom control.
They:
Create predictability
Build emotional safety
Support self-regulation
Reduce behavior challenges
Protect your instructional time
Build community and shared accountability
But only if we monitor what matters.
If you let go of the reins, the routine will unravel. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way.
One year, I taught my routines beautifully in August… but by October, my class was a mess. Why? Because I had stopped paying attention. I was too focused on curriculum. I wasn’t reinforcing what I once made mandatory.
And once I realized that? I adjusted. I rebuilt. And it changed everything.
Let’s Start Strong—Together
So as you think about routines for this upcoming year, ask yourself:
What five routines will I teach with total consistency?
How will I model, practice, and celebrate them?
How will I respond when they break down?
How will I protect my instructional time?
When you lead with clarity, consistency, and care—your students will rise to the routine.
And if this blog helped you, I’d love it if you’d share it with a fellow educator. The more we support each other, the stronger our classrooms—and our communities—become.
You’ve got this, teacher friend. And if no one’s told you today—what you do matters.
