Routine and Novelty: How Can We Keep a Balance?

It's important to keep routine in our daily life, especially when it comes to children. Routine brings a sense of security and builds confidence in children. Knowing what to expect in their day makes them feel in control of their surroundings. It helps them build the courage to take risks.

But routine can also become boring.

Brain research tells us that brains need both routine and novelty to grow. Yes, these words are antonyms, but both are necessary for learning to happen. Too much routine can become tedious and dull. Too much novelty becomes confusing and chaotic. How can we find a balance?

The best way to find that balance? Pay attention to your students! This is probably the most important part of being a teacher or a parent: know your students! Watch for signs that they are happy, bored, confused, or content. This is how you know they should continue with a routine, or are ready for a "shake up." 

The beginning of the school year, or right after a break, sticking to a routine is essential. They find comfort in that routine, and are happier and more content. 

But after a while, that same routine becomes the enemy! They need something different. A change. But as we all know, many people fear change. It's a rocky road, so proceed with caution.

Start with something simple. I always love to change the seating arrangement when boredom starts to set in. They get to come into a classroom that's familiar, but there's something different. When they find their new spot, there are loads of smiles! Plus, I love the giggles when they start to walk to their old spot, then realize they don't sit there anymore!

A few other ideas for an easy change from the routine: 

• change the schedule (be careful, this could cause a domino effect with children who receive services) 
  
• bring in a special snack to go with your lesson
• speak with a funny voice, or use an accent
• take a break from what you're teaching and have a special lesson
• take your lesson to a different spot... outside, in the hall, cafeteria, or any extra space
• wear something unique that will spark their attention
• introduce some new team building games See these blog posts: Space Balls, Paper Bag Dramatics, Team Building Activities  (these games can often be altered to fit academics)
  
• have them wear something to go with a theme
• bring in a guest teacher or guest reader
• do some Reader's Theater in the classroom See this blog post: Dramatics in the Classroom
  
• plan a craft or art project to go with your lesson
• get some new books for your classroom library

 

Once the children are able to handle small changes, it's time for a BIG change in routine!

Here in New England, the winters are long, dark and cold! By mid-January, we always need something big to shake things up! By this time, the children are quite secure in their routine, and basically dealing with "cabin fever" and are absolutely sick of everything! (No matter where you live, I'm sure the children get to this point!)

These are some things I do to help shake them from this state:

• Take a "virtual field trip" See this blog post: I Can't Stand Winter Anymore
• Throw out the whole day's routine (or week!) and have a series of focus lessons on a special topic. Find books, math lessons, science lessons, etc, all on this fun topic.
• Plan a class play to be performed for the school. (Ask the music teacher for help on a musical!) 
  
• Throw out the week's routine and sponsor some "Academic Games.  I've done this many times with an Olympics theme, and the excitement was almost as amazing as was the learning! See these blog posts for more ideas: Academic Winter Sports Team Building; Academic Summer Games, a Celebration of Learning  Let the Games Begin or see this resource: Academic Olympian Winter Sports Bundle
  
• I'll bet you can think of more ways to "shake it up" that will fit the needs of your students!
• The perfect resource to combine both routine and novelty: Daily Questions for Team Building, Morning Meetings, and Daily Writing Prompts.  

For more information about Routine and Novelty, see this blog post: Predictability and Novelty

 

 

 

Predictability and Novelty

Children will not learn until their needs are met. These are two of the most important needs of children:

 Predictability and Novelty.

Yes, I know what you're thinking, those words are opposites, how can a child need both?

Well, yes, they need each. 

They need a classroom that's predictable. This is a source of security for children. They need to know what to expect. They need to know what's coming up. They need routine.

 

The first month or so of school is when most classroom routines are established: entering the classroom, morning routines, lunch count, taking attendance, moving between classes, bathroom procedures, lunch procedure, dismissal, recess, and so on. Once these routines are established, the children feel secure in their routines, know what to expect and feel safe. Now the REAL teaching can begin!

For more ideas on teaching procedures, see this blog post: Tips for Teaching Procedures. 

The trouble with routine, is that it gets boring. They need a change of pace and new experiences. That's when novelty is needed.

Novelty is the way to shake things up! When boredom sets in, the brain tunes out, so it's the job of the teacher to keep things alive. 

Here are some ways to shake things up in the classroom:

Have a backwards day

Change the seating arrangement

Theme days or theme weeks

Create a new routine

Establish higher expectations

Swap classrooms with another teacher for the day

Rearrange or add to your classroom library

Ask your students for ideas

Here's a resource where you can establish a "safe" routine, raise expectations, and it changes every single day, so it never gets boring: Daily Questions for Team Building, Morning Meetings, and Daily Writing Prompts 

And by the way, it's not just children that have these two needs!