The first week is over. Your welcome board is still up (fading, but up). You’ve learned 70% of the names and answered 6,000 variations of “Can I go to the bathroom?”

Now comes the real challenge: establishing your routine — that sacred rhythm that keeps your classroom from turning into pure chaos by third period.

Spoiler alert: it won’t happen overnight. Or even in a week. But it will happen.

⏰ Real Talk: Why Routine Matters

Routines aren’t just for students. They’re for your sanity.

They’re the reason your future self won’t have to say “Stop asking me what to do after you finish” 17 times before lunch. They create predictability, peace, and a whole lot fewer behavior problems. Kids thrive on routine. (Honestly, so do we.)

💡 Here’s What You Actually Need to Focus On:

 1. Start Small.

You don’t need 37 systems right now. Start with 3:

• Morning entry routine
• Transition cues
• End-of-day dismissal flow

Do those every. single. day. The consistency is the lesson.

2. Practice. Then practice again.

Just like you re-teach a math concept, you need to re-teach your expectations — even when it feels repetitive. (Especially when it feels repetitive.)

3. Post it. Point to it. Repeat it.

Put your routines where kids can see them. Train yourself to point, not shout. It saves your voice — and your patience.

4. Give yourself grace.

You’ll forget. They’ll forget. Someone will knock over your anchor chart stand mid-direction. It’s not failure. It’s part of the rhythm-building process.

🧠 Teacher Tip:

If the day feels out of control, pause and ask:

“Is this a routine issue or a behavior issue?”

Nine times out of ten? It’s a routine that needs tightening.

🧍🏽‍♀️ A Word on Comparison

That teacher down the hall with the silent transitions and color-coded bins? They didn’t get there overnight. Focus on your pace. Your classroom. Your kids.

You’re not behind — you’re just building.

💬 Final Thought

Routine doesn’t mean rigid. It means repeatable. Reliable. Rooted in what works for you.

Keep showing up. Keep practicing. And one day, you’ll look around and realize — it’s working. They’re following your lead. You’re teaching. And you didn’t even break a sweat this time.

Class is still in session — and you’re finding your flow.

📘 Want more tips like this? The full eBook is available now at shantelpatt.com

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