Imagine stepping into a classroom where students begin their day with a warm greeting, a calming moment of mindful breathing, and a quick mood check-in. The energy feels grounded, inviting, and emotionally safe. Now, picture another classroom where students rush in, unsure of what’s next, navigating a chaotic and unpredictable start to their day. Which environment promotes emotional well-being and sets the stage for meaningful learning?
The difference lies in something deceptively simple yet profoundly impactful: routines. Our brains are wired to thrive in predictable environments. Routines provide the structure we need to plan, process new information, and regulate emotions. But routines are more than just repetitive actions—they are anchors of stability and emotional safety in a world that often feels uncertain, especially for students.
This blog explores the essential role routines play in creating emotionally secure and inclusive classrooms. It delves into how consistent practices can nurture emotional regulation, build resilience, and organically teach social-emotional skills. Whether it’s starting the day with a morning check-in or incorporating mindfulness into transitions, routines are the unsung heroes of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), shaping students’ ability to connect, thrive, and succeed.
Routines are simple things but consistent things that one practises throughout the day. According to UNESCO, certain key characteristics define routines in the context of students:
a) They are simple to follow and the students know what is expected out of them
b) They are predictable and therefore all the students follow it with consistency
c) They are not similar to a schedule as schedule over defines what to do and when
d) Routines are co-created with students and students have choice and autonomy
What might actually be seen as trivial, routines bring stability to an often unpredictable environment. Far from being rigid or uninspired, routines serve as the scaffolding upon which meaningful social-emotional development is built.
One might wonder, what is the relation between forming routines and being socially emotionally adept?
When one looks at the core principles of SEL, it aims to equip students with the skills to manage and channelise their emotions, build meaningful relations and responsible decisions. But these goals cannot be achieved in a vacuum. Emotional safety is considered a prerequisite for social-emotional growth and this is where routine plays a pivotal role. Hence the objective of the Blog is to establish the importance of routines in promoting emotional stability and safety, which are essential for effective social emotional learning. It insists that routines support the development of SEL skills by creating a predictable and inclusive environment.
Can Routines Serve as Emotional Guides?
Have you ever noticed how days feel more fluid and less stressful when there is a set routine. Uncertainty can generate anxiety, for many students who face challenges outside classrooms routine acts as an emotional anchor. A simple morning check-in, or greeting students by their names would promote a sense of belonging and acknowledgement amongst the students. Over time these rituals communicate to students that their presence matters and that their emotions are valued. Moreover a consistent routine promotes emotional regulation, a structured transition between activities using calm music or mindful exercises allows students to shift their emotional state with intention.
Tips for Teachers
a) Classroom Community Circle
Once a week, where students sit in a circle and share their thoughts and experiences. The teacher can facilitate using guiding questions to ensure that the students are able to share their hearts out. This would facilitate empathy and relationship-building.
b) Mood check-in
Every morning the teacher can begin the class with a quick five minute mood check in. This would also give students a sense of what they are feeling promoting self-awareness. The teacher can use a color-coded mood chart or emoji cards for younger students to quickly express their feelings. For older students, incorporate journaling or digital mood trackers.
How can you transform routines into Skill-building opportunities?
Routines are not just about managing skills and tasks but also about teaching the SEL competencies in an organic way. In many schools there is a concept of “assemblies” that are conducted as a first thing during the day. The idea of conducting those morning assemblies is to inculcate a sense of discipline amongst the students by giving a structured start to the students’ day.
According to research, routines and rituals like assemblies can improve students’ focus and readiness to learn by providing a predictable and calm start to the day. Research by Burns (2013) and Nguyen et al. (2021) shows that assemblies enhance communication skills through regular public speaking opportunities.
Many educators believe that morning assemblies are a great platform to instill moral and ethical values, as these assemblies often include “thought-for-day” or stories with moral values. These activities help in developing confidence, leadership qualities, and the ability to express ideas clearly in front of an audience
Tips for the Teachers
a)Mindful breathing breaks
Schedule a 5 minute breathing exercise during a specific time of the day, for example after a lunch break. This would help in gathering student’s attention which usually goes haywire after a break. This will build skills such as Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation. Encourage students to close their eyes and focus on their breath for five counts, gradually extending the duration as they build their mindfulness skills
b)Goal Setting Fridays
At the end of each week ask students to set goals, personal, academic or social goals for the upcoming week. This will build skills such as self-motivation, self awareness and allow students to take ownership of their actions and progress by regularly reviewing their goals.
How Routines can create Stability and a Sense of Security?
Routines provide us with a structure, especially for students who are facing the hardships of life outside the walls of the classroom, be it due to socio-economic forces or familial issues, routines provide a comfortable refuge. By creating predictable patterns that everyone can follow, routines reduce unpredictability and ensure that all students regardless of where they come from, their differing abilities and emotional state, can engage in the classroom with confidence. When routines are co-created with students, it reinforces that every voice in the classroom matters, which in turn also creates a shared sense of belonging.
Tips for Teachers
a) Offer Choice in Routine Activities
Give students autonomy by allowing them to choose how they participate in certain routines. For example, during reflection time, let them write, draw, or verbally share their thoughts
b)Incorporate Peer Support Systems
Establish "routine buddies" to assist peers who might need help understanding or following routines. This promotes inclusivity and strengthens social bonds
How Routines Prepare Students to Tackle the Unpredictable?
Ironically, the predictability and order of routines tend to prepare students for the unpredictabilities in life. Routines can build resilience amongst the students. For example when you ask a student to practise mindfulness activities everyday as a part of their routine, in the process they learn to manage their emotions better which could occur in the context of unpredictable situations
Tips for teachers
a) Crisis Drills
Integrate age appropriate exercises such as a technology failure or may be academic stress, failures that teach students how to remain calm and focused during unexpected events
b) Flexibility challenges
Introduces students to activities that allows them to solve problems creatively when routines are momentarily disrupted
Therefore, even though the concept of routines might seem ordinary, their impact on Social and Emotional learning seem extraordinary. By including routines carefully into classrooms teachers provide students with an opportunity to thrive in a secure environment that students can easily predict. It is imperative that one does not underestimate the power of inclusive and consistent practices.
Becoming, our Social and Emotional Learning program is built on the foundation of inclusive and consistent practices, helping students develop essential life skills through thoughtfully designed routines. We believe that by embedding routines that promote emotional well-being, self-awareness, and resilience we can empower students to steer through the challenges of life with confidence.
References:
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000384596.locale=en
https://www.crslearn.org/publication/implementing-effective-sel/implementing-sel-effectively-in-the-classroom/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://c4l.net/the-power-of-routine-how-consistent-schedules-benefit-your-childs-well-being/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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