Structures, Routines and Procedures along with relationship building are the pillars of a successful learning environment.  These pillars are essential in an early leaning space.

Benefits for Children

Children feel safe, secure and comfortable when they know the expectations and the flow of the day.  This is important for adults as well.  This happens to me, especially when I’m in a new-to-me airport in a country where English is not the primary language.  I tend to feel a little anxious until I can understand the processes, routines and location of familiar airport features.

Children feel in control of their environment (even if they were not the ones who established the structures, routines and procedures). There is comfort in knowing what is happening and what comes next.

Children are better to engage in the learning when they are not using up brain space on trying to figure out how to do a task or activity.

As the end to my first year in my new school arrives, I find myself reflecting on the structures, routines and procedures that worked well for my learners and the space and those that did not work as well.

Where to Start with Structures, Routines and Procedures

If you are wondering where to start, think of that very first day and what did you expect your student to do when they entered the learning space.  Did they need to put their things away, how did they do this, where did they put things, what did they do after this. 

I would challenge you to brainstorm a list of these routines and then select only a few for each day to explicitly model, practice, discuss and repeat each day.  Putting in the time at the start of the year will save you time as the year unfolds (and yes, after each extended school break, you will need to return to the model, practice, discuss, repeat cycle for some of these structures, routines and procedures).

Happy Learning,

Lynda