Classroom Routines for Real Learning
Daily management exercises that empower and engage students
by Jennifer Harper and Kathryn O’Brien
Pembroke Publishers, 2015
ISBN 978-1-55138-297-5 (bk)
ISBN 978-1-55138-906 (pdf)
$24.95, 128 pp., Teachers’ Resource
pembrokepublishers.com
A new text dealing with old issues in a new way is always a valuable addition to the professional libraries of forward moving teachers. With enduring student achievement in mind, Harper and O’Brien have produced a book that offers researched based reasons for creating, teaching, practising and mastering routines throughout the school day.
Beginning with entry into the classroom, Classroom Routines shows how well coordinated preparation can foster the progression from student dependability to eventual independence and personal control of learning. With excellent outlines for morning tasks and homework notes, specific activities such as “Musical Interlude” for transition times, and even specific strategies for assessment and next steps, any teacher can find a new and intriguing strategy to engage kids all day. If, like me, you sometimes have trouble getting kids out the door in an orderly fashion to their next class, there’s help for you here. There is at least one new idea for anyone teaching primary to secondary students that will make your day a little easier among the glorious chaos of learning.
Review by Kent Miller.
This review is from Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Apr/May 2016 issue.
