As the new school year begins, teachers are focusing on making students feel like they belong in the classroom. Creating a sense of community is crucial, and one effective way to achieve this is through establishing a classroom structure.
1. The Power of Structure
As an educator working with beginning language learners, I’m a strong believer in classroom structure. My experience living in foreign countries without understanding the language taught me the importance of routines. They became my lifeline, helping me feel safe and integrated into new communities. When I knew what to expect each day, I could participate and be prepared, regardless of my language proficiency. I believe the same principle applies to our students: when they know what to expect they can be successful members of our classroom community.
2. Benefits of Daily Routines
Implementing and consistently enforcing classroom routines offers several benefits:
- Students learn how we want our classes to run
- It provides a sense of security through clear expectations
- When students can engage with familiar routines, they feel part of the group
“Remember, a structured classroom is a welcoming classroom.”
3. Consistency is Key
Many teachers, myself included, establish classroom routines only to let them slide as the school year gets busier. Sometimes, we may feel a routine isn’t working and abandon it. However, allowing our structures to fall apart does a disservice to our students.
We need to learn to examine routines that we feel do not work before we let them slide. Is it the routine? Does it need just a slight tweak, or perhaps some reinforcement, so that students continue to learn the routines? Does it just need more time for our students to get used to how we want our classrooms to run? If it has to be abandoned, can it be replaced with another routine that will help our students understand our expectations and become successful members of our community?
4. Creating a Sense of Belonging
By maintaining consistent structures, we create an environment where students understand what’s expected of them. This understanding fosters a sense of belonging and helps students feel like valued members of the classroom community.
Remember, a structured classroom is a welcoming classroom. It’s worth the effort to establish and maintain routines that support your students’ sense of security and belonging.