Ideas for Integrating Routines into Your Preschool Classroom
Routines encourage children to clear their minds
of distractions and get ready for learning. They are
invaluable for building the classroom community
and a safe learning environment because children
rely on predictability. This doesn’t mean that you
can’t change or adapt routines, but keep the stages
similar in every class. Some days children will be full
of energy and might need a calming activity; other
days they may need a game to energize them.
1 Getting Ready for Class
Together with the class, make a poster with
pictures describing what children should do as
they arrive. For example, Hang Up Your Coats,
Store Your Lunchbox, Sign In, Sit Down Choose
an Activity Corner.
2 Taking Attendance
Taking attendance can be more than just calling
out the children’s names:
• Give a child a ball and call out the name of
another child. The first child rolls the ball to the
second child and so on.
• When you call out a child’s name, be ready with
a follow-up question or Flashcard.
• Children make puppets of themselves and stick
them on the wall next to their name as they
arrive.
3 Routine Board
This digital tool for Interactive Whiteboards
offers animated stories, songs, interactive
flashcards and games. These activities can be
used as an extension or as a way of adding
variety to the class. Use the Routine Board to
review the weather, seasons, birthdays, colors,
numbers and shapes.
4 Activity Corners
If you have a large classroom, you might want to
prepare several Activity Corners, for example: an
area with blocks, an area with paper and crayons,
a play area, etc. At the very least, ensure children
© Cambridge University Press 2020
have access to books, paper and crayons that
they can look at or use as they wait for the class
to start. Remember to ask about the book they
are looking at or what they are drawing.
5 Reviewing Language
Although children are quick to learn, they are
also very quick to forget. Use the start of class to
review vocabulary and language from the current
and previous units. Keep track of the language
that children find difficult and recycle it as often
as possible. Always have Flashcards ready and
pull them out when the children least expect it.
Similarly, take every opportunity to use chunks of
language from previous units.
6 Using Tickles the Puppet to Evaluate
Feelings and Present New Language
Use Tickles the Puppet to evaluate how the
children feel emotionally and about their English
lessons. For example, have Tickles ask questions
about what the children like/don’t like. Use
Tickles to introduce new language and skills.
Children will often feel more comfortable talking
to a puppet than to a person.
7 Activities to Build a Classroom
Community
Here are some ideas for routines to build a
community spirit.
• Sing a song. It can be a favorite song or a song
from a previous unit.
• Read a story from the unit or a previous unit.
• Do action chants
such as Heads,
Shoulders, Knees
and Toes.
• Play a game, such
as Tickles Says.