Teaching Effective Classroom Routines: Establish Structure in the Classroom to Foster Children’s Learning?From the First Day of School and All Through the Year

the photos in this book really help give life to the content. Has a lot of good suggestions regarding routines in the classroom.

These days I am attracted to short practical books. I saw this book in an office supply store and it met my qualifications. With only 128 pages it is practical and easy to read. As an Occupational Therapist, I visit classrooms to identify why particular students are experiencing learning problems. The atmosphere of the classroom can be a major factor related to the success of the children with ADHD, social issues, visual perceptual problems, etc..I selected this book to gain a teacher's perspective on how an efficient classroom runs. The book emphasizes the need for a "smooth rhythm to events in the day."Use of a single global class rule is emphasized (eg: be self-controlled)and children discuss the rule in class meetings. The placement of furniture and supplies is related to positive behavior. Well known but improtant information such as how long open spaces encourage running are noted in the book. I liked the idea of offering a variety of places where children can choose to work. When children select where they would like to work, the teacher can learn more about the student's learning style. The teacher's communication skills are stressed throughout the book, especially related to facilitating problem solving in class meetings. Overuse of "good job: is discussed. This book reminds teachers of routines that need to be established the first week of school. Specific routines for the K-2 grader are discussed. In general this book reviews basic concepts that can be lost as teachers focus on the content of lesson plans and test preparation. I feel I gained a teacher's perspective from reading the book as well as confidence that my suggestions are in line with what teachers have been exposed to in their education.