Cohen and Manion [1981] states that "Rituals and routines are invaluable to the teacher for, in imposing a structure on the life of the school, they offer him a basis for establishing control, thereby prolonging his survival chances day by day, year by year." [Page 122].
To be able to "survive" in a class is obviously one of the most important achievements for a teacher. A routine needs to be established which the teacher and children feel comfortable with, and of which the teacher knows will give the correct outcome in academic and non academic time. To do this is half the battle fought. Routines play an important role in everyday life, in and out of the classroom, and in and out of the school.
Use of routine.
1. Establish control.
2. To introduce or re-enforce a rule.
3. Creates time.
4. Personalises the lesson.
5. Organisation.
6. Safety.
If the teacher sets up a routine they are able to say how they want something to happen. They are able to control how something happens. For example the children leaving the classroom, this could be an uncontrolled stampede or a single file line quietly and calmly out the door. Establishing a routine on how to do something, pupils being sent out individually by order of the neatest and quietest, creates order instead of just saying "line up". Not only does this keep the teacher in charge of the class but once the routine is established the children will also know how they are meant to behave. This will then lead onto establishing other rules such as sitting up smartly and quietly. .
Routines in the morning such as hanging up coats and back, collecting books or ways of settling down allows the teacher extra time to sort out any problems there may be while the other children get on with the every morning routine. .
This type of routine, where a child knows what they have to do when entering the classroom makes the environment more familiar and they can fit in. If they are given something to do, that they know how to do, along with the rest of the class there is less isolation.
