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4 Must Have Routines for Teachers

Routines for teachers are not just about getting through the day, but about thriving in the classroom. From morning rituals that set the tone for success to evening rituals that promote relaxation and self-care, we as teachers need structured routines to navigate the demands of our profession.

Whether you’re a seasoned teacher or just starting out, having these routines in place can make all the difference. So, let’s dive into the world of routines for teachers, and discover how they can transform your teaching experience. Get ready to take your teaching game to the next level!

Morning Routines for Teachers

Having a routine in the morning before the school day starts is essential for a productive day ahead. These routines are super important for a productive day ahead. So, first things first, setting an alarm to wake up early is a must. Once you’re up it’s time for a quick stretch or exercise to fuel your mind and body. Dressing professionally and tidying up your classroom creates a positive vibe for both you and your students.

Take a moment to review your lesson plans and materials to make sure everything’s good to go. Then find a quiet spot to do some reflection or deep breaths to help you stay calm and focused. I really love doing guided meditation through the Headspace app in the mornings to start my day off strong.

Evening Routines for Teachers

Creating an evening routine is super important to help yourself relax and recharge. Start by tidying up your house to create a cozy and clutter free space. Take a moment to reflect on your day and jot down any important notes or thoughts for the future.

Now it’s time for some much needed self-care! Engage in activities you love, like pursuing a hobby or spending quality time with your loved ones. To wind down, grab a book you’ve been meaning to read or play some soothing music to help you relax and get ready for a good night’s sleep. Need some more ideas about teacher self-care? Click here to read my blog post all about it.

Lesson Planning Routines for Teachers

Lesson planning can look different based on the subjects you teach, the grade you teach, or the expectations from your school or district so I’m breaking it down into the four main categories of lesson planning.

Planning Routine

Within your planning routine, you’re going to set dates for your lessons. You’ll want to create a scope and sequence or a to do list of all the items you’re going to have to get done. This may be where you go online to find new ideas. I like to think of it as your week’s outline for your lessons.

Prepping Digital Materials

This part of the lesson planning routine is all of the tasks that you can complete on your phone, tablet, or computer. If you do daily slides, this is where you’ll begin creating those for the week. You may want to create resources for your students or locate resources that you already have digitally from either your curriculum or TPT. (You can check out my TPT store if you need some activity ideas!) 

Prepping Physical Materials

In this step you’ll want to make any necessary copies, prepare anchor charts, pull out manipulatives, or gather any physical materials that you or your students may need for the lesson.

Organizing Routine

Your organizing routine within lesson planning is going to include tasks like adding websites to your bookmarks. You may also want to create a “START” folder within your Google Drive™ and add anything you’ll need quick access to each day there. This is also the time to put your copies into your days of the week drawers or wherever you store your materials for each day.

I also like to create a quick little to do list of things that I have to do the day of for that lesson. Honestly making that to do list ahead of time just saves me so much time in the long run by not having to try to remember what I was going to do and being able to know quickly what still has to be done for the lesson to be successful.

Grading Routines for Teachers

The last essential routine every teacher needs is a grading routine. Now this is going to look different for everyone just like your lesson planning routine. This routine should include marking the assignments, adding comments, embellishing with stickers, etc. You could also be entering grade into the grade book, prepping any assignment redos, or tracking missing assignments.

I also like to add contacting families about grades that have improved or maybe grades that are declining. I add in returning papers to students within my grading routine as well because once they’re graded and entered I don’t want to keep that stack of papers laying around.