Happy back-to-school season! At Success Academy, we believe that big goals and magical classrooms are achieved through clear rules and routines. The start of the school year is the perfect opportunity to set up systems for students that will help them gain increased independence throughout the school year. When teachers believe kids can achieve, then communicate and uphold clear expectations for how to get there, there’s no limit to what kids can accomplish. Keep reading to learn more about how Success Academy sets its students up for success from the first day of school. 

“Smart classroom management is creating a classroom your students love being part of combined with an unwavering commitment to accountability.” —Michael Linsin, The Classroom Management Secret

Clear Expectations

Clear expectations between teachers and kids help build trust and safety in the classroom. At Success Academy, one of our favorite teaching tools for getting clear is the gray box. The goal of this tool is to help educators think through different parts of a school day when expectations for students are unclear and, as a result, could become unproductive or unsafe. Teachers then work to eliminate the gray and make sure expectations are as clear and defined as possible. We highly recommend giving this tool a try when vision-setting and planning at the start of the year.

Practicing Routines

Once teachers have eliminated the gray and clearly communicated expectations to students, it’s essential that they spend time practicing routines with kids to get them right. Michael Linsin, author of one of our favorite books The Classroom Management Secret says: “Routines are among the most important strategies because they make everything easier. Anything you do repeatedly, as a class—entering the classroom, collecting materials—should be made into a routine your students can do with little or no input from you. This saves you time, cuts down on misbehavior, and helps your students stay focused on learning.”

The more time kids spend practicing routines and redoing them if they aren’t right, the faster they can gain independence in the classroom. Teachers are important coaches during this practice time, constantly giving students feedback to help them improve. 

Check out these videos of Success Academy teachers introducing, practicing, and giving feedback on classroom routines.

Elementary School Routines: Arrival and Unpack
Elementary School Routines: Line Up and Hallway Walking
Middle School Routines: Arrival and Unpack

Michael Linsin’s The Classroom Management Secret has inspired our approach to creating routines that make managing your classroom simple and efficient. We hope these tips and tricks help you start the year on a positive note. Let us know if you give the gray box a try and how you implement routine practice and redo into your beginning of year plans!