Instructional Routines

First Weeks of School

Instructional routines are the engine that makes Arts & Letters lessons run smoothly. They do four things at once: reduce cognitive load so students can focus on content, support growth in speaking and listening, make student thinking visible for formative assessment, and save instructional time by minimizing transitions.

Start Small, Then Build
Pick one routine in an upcoming lesson. Plan how you will share its purpose with students and teach each step so that they can complete the routine efficiently. Routines work when students know what to expect, and that takes repetition. Resist the urge to introduce multiple routines at once—depth beats breadth in the early weeks.

Make Them Your Own
You know your students best—if a routine isn’t working, adjust or swap it for one that better fits your class and the lesson goals—while keeping a focus on coherence, rigor, and purpose.