Our Shared Language

Routines: consistency is king

What and why

What

Routines:

  • A routine is a sequence of actions triggered by a specific prompt or ‘cue’ that is repeated so often it becomes an automatic response.
  • School routines fall into two categories:
  • Instructional routines (like cold calling) to make learning more efficient
  • Behaviour routines (like classroom entry) to create time for learning.

 
Why
  • Routines automate correct behaviours
  • Routines ease cognitive load
  • This means thinking can be focused on learning
  • This also means teachers can spend more time on perfecting their explanations/checking for understanding/live marking and other domain specific things

 

The 4 Laws of Habit Creation

By James Clear

1. Make it obvious

A cue makes it obvious: that's why we 'brighten the lines'

McCrea: the cue should be 'punchy': short and delivered with change of tone/pace

When I say go... Ready? Go!
2. Make it attractive

Create a culture of NORMAL behaviours

All doing the correct things makes it normal.

It is who we are; it is what we do. We are aspirational. We want to achieve great things. We don’t give up.

Does your classroom culture reflect this?
3. Make it easy

Reduce the friction between the first step and desired outcome

Does your ‘do now’ increase in challenge?

Prime the environment

Is your starter up and ready as they enter? Are you waiting at threshold?
4. Make it satisfying

Use reinforcement: rewards, allow them to see the benefits

Track habits (Ollie’s packing up example)

Never miss twice - reminder warning…restorative conversations… parental conversations..

 

High frequency errors which stop good habits from forming

1. Make it obvious

The correct behaviour is not obvious

Blurred lines (as opposed to bright lines…)
2. Make it attractive

There’s no incentive to do the correct behaviour

It is not normal in your lesson to behave in the correct way

They fit in if they don’t listen to an instruction
3. Make it easy

It’s hard to do the correct behaviour

It is easier to chat to partner than do the starter
4. Make it satisfying

It is not satisfying to do the correct behaviour

Rewards are not given consistently/only given to certain students

 

What A Good One Looks Like

Click the hyperlinks to access WAGOLL videos 

Make it obvious: brighten lines

Make it attractive: pick up on any discrepancy in SLANT expectations

Make it easy: be at the threshold on time

Make it satisfaying: remind them about your 5 Golden Tickets at the start (and follow through!)

 

Key takeaways

  1. Make it obvious: brighten the lines
  2. Make it attractive: pick up on any discrepancy in SLANT expectations
  3. Make it easy: be at the threshold on time
  4. Make it satisfying: remind them about your 5 Golden Tickets at the start (and follow through!)

 

Take the quiz to complete module 3!

Our Shared Language: Routines: consistency is king

 

Key reading