Name ____________________________Grade Level _______ School________________________

Systems & Routines

Participants will:
- Learn basic techniques for establishing and cultivating effective procedures
- Discuss practical ways to effectively plan for transitions and procedures.
- Plan how to implement strategies and procedures in the classroom

Threshold
Key idea: Meet your students at the door, setting expectations before they enter the classroom.
The 5 basic Elements:
1. See both sides: stand where you can see the room and the hallway.
2. Control the flow: stand where you control movement in and out as much as possible; it is your right and
responsibility to control how quickly and when students enter.
3. _______ ______: this builds a tone of civility and should cause each student to pause and make eye contact.
4. Reset ______________: Use Threshold as an opportunity to remind and reset students of your expectations.
5. Use positive chatter: Build positive rapport and connections to students with brief personalized comments Looking sharp! or even just How are you doing today?
Video Clip: Stephen Chiger
Using the space below, list your observations of the teacher AND students in this video.
What the teacher says/does:

What the students say/do:

, @, @+

** [PDF file: Learning Goal Sheets, Bell Ringer]

Key idea: Design and establish an efficient routine for students to enter the classroom and begin class.
1. It _________ ______ _________. Your classroom culture is affected by the opening minutes of a lesson.
2. It builds __________________ and effective _________________.
3. It sets the table for ___________________. Strong Start can help you efficiently preview or review content. It
helps you achieve your overarching goal of equipping students with the academic tools they need to succeed.

Use the space below to jot down your ideas for planning a STRONG START/ENTRY ROUTINE.
Some suggestions include:
- List all the actions a student needs to complete before going to their seat
- What materials do they need before they sit down?
- Where will their required materials be located?
- HOW do the students need to complete the entry routine? (Can they talk quietly before the tardy bell rings? Is every student responsible for picking
up his/her notebook, or will there be 3 assigned helpers to do this task each six weeks? Does one person from each table need to pick up a supply
bucket for his/her table?)

)@@  @

Name ____________________________Grade Level _______ School________________________

,%
'- ,-
+ **[PDF SLANT poster]

Key idea: Teach students key baseline behaviors for learning, such as sitting up in class and tracking the speaker, by
using a memorable acronym such as STAR or SLANT.
S:
T:
A:
R:
S:
L:
A:
N:
T:

)@@  @In which situations would you plan to look for/reinforce SLANT/STAR?

On Your Mark **[Powerpoint template slide]

Key idea: Show students HOW to be prepared for class before it begins and expect them to do so every day.
1. Be _______________ about what students need to have to start class. Make it a small and finite list.
Example:
- Paper out.
- Desk clear (of everything unnecessary to the lesson)
- Pencil sharp and ready
- Homework (in the upper-right hand corner of your desk)
2. Set a __________ _____________.
3. Use a ____________________ _________________________. Have a small and appropriate consequence
that you can administer without hesitation. (Ex. Losing points from classroom economy, etc.)
4. Provide tools _______________ __________________ (pencils, paper) to those who recognize the need
before class. Think about having a can of pencils available that students could help themselves to during their
entry routine. Once class starts, the consequence for not being On Your Mark would apply.
5. Include homework. (There should be a separate consequence for not doing homeworkHomework Club
after school/etc.)

Name ____________________________Grade Level _______ School________________________

Video Clip: Doug McCurry
In the space below explain the impact of practicing how to pass out papers.

Tight Transitions
Transition: any change in activity in which the students arent actively learning (Ex. distributing materials,
moving from station to station, lining up, putting materials away, etc.)
*Messy transitions can often lead to disruptions and conflicts that undermine the classroom environment and
derail instruction
Key idea: Practice quickly and effectively transitioning from activity to activity in order to maximize your instructional time
and maintain momentum
1. Map the route
2. Practice multiple times (if necessary)
3. Scaffold the steps (When I say go, stand up.)
4. Use point-to-point movement when transitions cause you to move around the building. (Ex. Please silently
walk to the end of the hallway; then, stop and wait for my signal.)
5. Have students practice Do it Again with Positive Framing if they do not complete a transition effectively. The
goal is speed and orderliness!

)@@  @Plan out examples of transitions you will encounter in your class. Practice how you
would scaffold the steps for your students.

TRANSITION

!(0

Switching from independent

reading time to the mini-lesson

When I say go, you will have 10 seconds to return to your seat, place your book underneath your
desk, and take out your Readers Notebook. AaaaaandGo! [countdown]

Name ____________________________Grade Level _______ School________________________

Video Clip: Nikki Bowen
What did Ms. Bowen do to help her students successfully transition and learn the procedure?

S  @" @@) 

@@+
Key idea: Turn procedures into routines by rehearsing and reinforcing until excellence becomes habitual. This requires
clear expectations, consistency, and PATIENCE!
Keys to success:
1. Number the _____________.
2. Model and describe.
3. __________ practice
4. Transfer ownership
Tips for Resetting Procedures and Routines:
-Connect it back to a goal
-Reset or modify after an extended break
-Be transparent
-Let students Model and Describe
-Follow up with Precise Praise

)@@  @What takeaways or ideas do you have after todays session that you want to
implement in your classroom this year?