As students enter the classroom, they have a very specific routine that they adhere to. These seamless procedures and classroom management strategies maximize the instruction time and benefit the students. Students become familiar with the routines and procedures at the beginning of the year, and as the year progresses so does the autonomy of the routine. Valuable instructional time is lost when transitions are not done with ease and volunteers and other professionals should follow and adhere to each individual classroom’s procedures upon entry.

          The photographs on this page display students cooperatively learning and collaborating while outside working on a math lesson. At the end of the lesson, students knew it was time to help clean and get in line to return to the classroom, using the phrase “class-class” to get their attention. The use of hand signals during number talks and other subjects allows me to know which students are on track, need some help, or do not grasp the subject at all without the chaotic shouting and provides time for transitions to small instructional groups. When classroom procedures and routines are followed, instruction is more engaging, classroom jobs are requested, and students initiate learning and management of their own space.