We’re kicking off our Back to School series with one of the most important foundations for a great school year: routines.
Between Max and I, we’ve experienced our fair share of first days—and if we’ve learned anything, it’s this: You cannot expect your students to “just know” what to do.
After a long summer (or for some, their first classroom ever), kids need clear, repeated, slow instruction in every single part of the school day. And it’s our job to teach them everything—even the parts that feel obvious.
Back to School Series: Routines
🤔 Why Assume They Know Nothing?
It’s not about being condescending. It’s about being proactive.
Your students may have never:
- Walked in a line before
- Used a pencil sharpener
- Transitioned to a rug without chaos
- Asked for help in a group setting
And even if they’ve done it before? It wasn’t with you.
So start fresh. Teach it all. Go slow. Model it clearly. Then… do it again.
📌 How to Teach Routines that Stick
There are 3 key words we swear by when teaching routines:
EXPLICIT
Explain exactly what you expect. Break it into steps. Narrate your thought process as you model it.
“Watch how I push in my chair and walk over to the carpet. My hands are by my sides, my voice is off, and I’m not touching anything on the way.”
SLOWLY
If it takes all morning to teach one routine, so be it. You’re setting the tone for the rest of the year—not just checking off a list.
The slower you go now, the smoother things go later.
REPEAT
Repetition builds independence. Revisit key routines daily until students don’t even have to think about what to do next.
🗣️ Use Call and Response to Reinforce Expectations
One of our favorite tools for maintaining structure? Call and response routines.
Not only do they capture attention quickly, but they build classroom culture and give students a role in the routine.
Here are a few of our favorites:
- Teacher: “Hands on top” → Students: “Everybody stop!”
- Teacher: “Peanut Butter” → Students: “Jelly Time!”
- Teacher: “1, 2, 3, Eyes on me” → Students: “1, 2, 3 Eyes on you!”
Want something more personalized? Max uses rhythmic clapping patterns that students echo back. It’s simple, non-verbal, and super effective.
🧠 You Can’t Overteach Routines
In fact, most behavioral issues in the first month of school can be traced back to one thing: unclear expectations.
When routines are solid, students know what to do—and that frees you up to teach. It’s the difference between constant redirection… and a calm, confident classroom.
✅ Example Routines to Teach the First Week:
- Entering the classroom in the morning
- Lining up (and what to do while waiting)
- How to clean up supplies
- What to do if your pencil breaks
- Raising your hand for help
- How to transition between activities
- Voice levels during different times of day
- What to do when you finish early
📣 Let’s Hear From You!
We hope you found this post helpful! What are your must-teach routines for the first week of school?
Drop them in the comments or tag us on Instagram @smellsliketeachspirit so we can share your genius with the teacher community!
⏱ Want to Save Time?
Want to make your first week easier? Grab our Ultimate List of Kindergarten Routines to set routines and expectations with confidence from Day 1.
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