6.2 | What Are Rules and Routines?
Preview
Before we begin, think of some rules that you always follow, and some routines that help you in your daily life.
Understanding Rules and Routines
Good classroom management creates classroom environments where all students are engaged in their learning and treat each other and the teacher with respect. Classroom management requires all students to follow rules and routines, accept discipline for misbehaviour, and be interested and motivated to work hard and learn.
Rules are the ways that students must behave. This includes things that they can and cannot do so that they have behavioural boundaries. Rules make classrooms safer and give teachers control. Rules have consequences. If students break a rule, they receive discipline.
Rules may be given by the educational institution or teacher, although it is also possible for teachers and students to create classroom rules together. Rules must be clearly presented to students, such as by being listed on a poster in the classroom or being included in a student handbook.
Routines are classroom procedures that students follow regularly and efficiently. Establishing routines saves time, confusion and disruption. Routines have reminders. If students do not follow a routine, they are reminded that they must follow it and given time to practise it. Routines are often decided by the teacher. There are three steps to teaching routines:
- Explain and demonstrate the routine to the students.
- Students practise the routine to become more efficient.
- If students don’t follow the routine correctly, re-teach it and let them practise again.
At the beginning of a course, it is very important to present and explain the rules and routines to the students so that they know the teacher’s expectations. They also need to know what happens if they break a rule or if they do not correctly follow a routine.