In Greek Mythology, the first woman, Pandora, unleashes a host of ills on the human race. In various versions of the myth, she opens a box or a jar out of curiosity and an array of unintended consequences follow. We are all meant to learn that Pandora's Box should be kept tightly closed.
I don't know about you, but I say hand me the box cutter and let's release some chaos.
Similar to Schrödinger's Cat (mythology and quantum mechanics exist side by side, of course), when the box is open, we have the full picture. Each year as we anticipate greeting a new group of students, we peek into that box and get both fired up and nervous for the year ahead. We are never entirely certain what might be unleashed in our classrooms, but that's the fun of teaching. The only thing we can control is our own preparation. The most essential part of the groundwork that keeps hope alive in the box, is classroom procedures and routines.
A report by Project Innovation Austin expands on the vital importance of procedures in classroom management. These daily routines not only decrease discipline issues but they increase the social-emotional wellness of students and teachers. A similar report out of the UK examines the brain science behind routines and procedures as a way to improve learning while ensuring they are not a function of control.
The research is clear that classroom procedures and routines are necessary. However, sometimes secondary teachers do not recognize the urgency of using them with older students. That's where, similar to Pandora, things get a little misunderstood. Procedures do not decrease student autonomy, they simply provide the framework necessary for all students to get what they need out of our classrooms.
There are two areas where you can successfully employ procedures as you head back to school this year:
1. Creating clarity in classroom operations
There are various procedures that provide transparency in the day to day business of classrooms. It is a kindness and not a burden to students to provide that clarity. Consider how you begin and end class, how you transition to a new activity, expectations around group and individual work, or even where to find information and materials. Students need to be taught these procedures, and they must be consistently reinforced throughout the year.
A wealth of information exists online about procedures for beginning and ending class. These are the procedures that impact our classrooms every day so they should be intentional and clear. There should always be something students are responsible for doing as they enter class, and there should always be a purposeful way to summarize and end class. Facing History provides a treasure trove of ideas and resources for opening and closing class. Just click on a strategy and use it tomorrow! The Modern Classrooms Project also has a host of resources to help teachers open and close class efficiently and effectively.
In addition to opening and closing learning in ways that are best for students and staff, teachers can also consider how to create clarity around collaboration. Should you assign roles? Do all students understand the expectations for projects? Have they been clearly taught expectations around group work, independent work, and all the times in between? Choose what works for you, your classroom, and your students, but be consistent and clear in your expectations.
2. Creating consistency in classroom discussions
We do not always associate discussion procedures with classroom management, but they definitely belong. Not only do discussion protocols provide a quick and easy way to launch into any classroom discussion at any moment, but they also ensure that all student voices are present in your classroom. Some of the easiest to employ are the Harvard Project Zero Thinking Routines. After you explore the collection, choose just three to five routines that you want to become the basis of your classroom discussions, teach the routines to students, and use them at a moment's notice for any discussion. Routines like Creative Question Starts or Unveiling Stories could be easily taught, posted in the classroom, and used with multiple subjects.
Correspondingly, Edutopia and Cult of Pedagogy offer their own resources around classroom discussion protocols. Gallery walks, silent discussions, fishbowls, and concentric circles are all easy, low-prep routines to use in any area. Simply teach the procedure, post a description of how it works in the classroom, and dispatch it within minutes as you are teaching. Discussion procedures frame the expectation that all students will participate while simultaneously providing them the safety and clarity to effectively do so.
Depending upon the version, Pandora's Box contained both good and bad elements. Sometimes we worry about opening that box and unleashing all the cool stuff our classrooms contain. This school year, open the box but provide the procedures and routines necessary to ensure all your students thrive. Pandora would be proud.
Excellent observations! Thanks!
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