The first few weeks of school are some of the most important—and sometimes the most overwhelming—parts of the year. If you’re a primary teacher, you know that getting your students into a rhythm early on can make or break your entire year.
That’s why teaching routines and procedures from day one is absolutely essential.
Why Routines Matter
Young students thrive on structure. When children know exactly what’s expected of them, they feel safer, more confident, and more capable of being successful learners. Without clear expectations, students may become confused, distracted, or anxious—and that’s when behavior problems start to creep in.
Teaching routines isn’t just about classroom control. It’s about building independence. When students know what to do and how to do it, they don’t need to rely on the teacher for every small task. That means less repeating yourself, fewer interruptions, and more time actually spent on learning.
What Procedures Should Be Taught?
You may be surprised at just how much there is to teach. Even the smallest tasks—like sharpening a pencil or getting a drink of water—require instruction. Some examples of routines and procedures to teach include:
- Arrival and dismissal
- Using materials correctly (pencils, glue sticks, scissors, etc.)
- Moving through the school (walking in the halls, lining up, going to the bathroom)
- Participating in key parts of the day (morning meeting, independent work, read aloud, centers)
Taking the time to break these down for students helps them feel empowered and sets the tone for a respectful, focused learning environment.
Visual Support Makes All the Difference
One of the most effective ways to teach routines to young learners is with visuals. Many primary students are still learning to read, and even those who can benefit from visual cues and repetition. That’s why I love using slides to support these lessons.
I created this resource specifically for the first week of school that helps me walk my students through all of these routines and expectations. It includes:
- 77 total slides that you can project or print
- Premade slides for commonly used materials and classroom procedures
- 29 editable slides with moveable clipart so you can customize to fit your classroom needs
Some of the topics included are:
- How to use materials like scissors, glue sticks, playdough, and notebooks
- Key procedures such as getting a drink, transitioning to lunch or recess, starting morning work, and walking in the halls
These slides are more than just pretty visuals—they’re a powerful classroom management tool. By teaching expectations explicitly and consistently with visual reinforcement, I’ve seen fewer behavior issues, more student independence, and a much calmer classroom environment overall.
Set the Tone for a Successful Year
The key to strong classroom management is simple: teach, model, practice, and repeat. When you invest time in teaching procedures at the beginning of the year, you get that time back tenfold later on.
If you’re looking for a tool to help make this process easier (and a little more fun), check out the Classroom Procedures and Routines Slides. They’re part of my Classroom Management Bundle too—so if you want to save, that’s a great option!
Here’s to a smooth, successful school year—with less stress and more learning!
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