Kindergarten Routines and Procedures that are Essential for Success 

Kindergarten routines and procedures – You’re going to want to bookmark this one!

When Kindergarten students are coming into your classroom, it’s important to remember they aren’t going to know how to act right away.

That’s why it’s important that we teach Kindergarten routines and procedures that make our whole day run smoothly.

What do you need a routine for?

Keep reading to find out! 

How to Teach Kindergarten Routines and Procedures

When you have littles coming into your classroom, you’re going to be starting with a clean slate.

That means teaching Kindergarten rules and procedures can’t be a one and done adventure.

Instead, you have to introduce, model, and practice each routine consistently and patiently. 

To start, explain the purpose and steps of each routine.

Then show your students how to complete it. Next, engage your students in guided practice and offer support and feedback.

This can be done with a game or simple verbal reminders.

Finally, remember you have some young ones in your classroom; therefore, it’s going to take them a second.

So, be prepared to revisit and review routines frequently until these kindergarten routines and procedures become second nature. 

Procedures for Entering the Classroom

1. Good manners are always important. So, teach your students to always greet their teacher and fellow classmates with a smile, a wave, or a simple “good morning” as they enter the classroom. This will create a positive classroom environment for students as they feel seen and heard right away. 
2. Once they have greeted their friends, make sure students know where to put their belongings. Whether they have lockers, cubbies, or hooks, have a designated area where students can hang their coats, backpacks, and any other belongings they brought that day. 
3. As a kindergarten teacher, you are always sending out notes and forms. If you have parents sign these and send them back, have a place for students to put the signed documents and forms. With this procedure, you’ll also have to teach students to check their backpacks. This kindergarten classroom procedure is perfect for keeping documents organized. 
4. Having morning work or a check-in activity is also a simple kindergarten classroom procedure that is perfect for giving you time to do the “prep work” before class starts like taking attendance or attending to a skinned knee. When you have morning work, make sure it is consistent so students can do the work independently. Your morning work can be a simple worksheet, a journal prompt, or a hands-on activity that students work on right when they come into class. 
5. Because it’s inevitable that you’ll have to do something in the morning, have a kindergarten classroom procedure that allows students to help you with the one thing so many teachers forget: attendance. Having students move a magnet or name card from “home” to “school” on a designated board is simple and a fun little activity too. 
6. If your school does breakfast for students, make sure you have a procedure and routine for students who eat it.  You’ll want a plan for getting their meal, eating it, and cleaning up afterwards in a timely manner. 
7. All of the above usually happens within the first fifteen to thirty minutes of school! Now, you have to quietly transition into the first activity for the day. You can do this by teaching students where to go next. For example, after they are done with their morning work, they might go to the carpet. 
8. The final arrival routine you’ll want to practice is using hand sanitizer when entering the classroom. By making this a kindergarten classroom procedure, you’ll be able to keep illnesses at bay especially during cold and flu season. 

Practicing all of these morning routines daily when students come into the classroom during the first week will help students develop a sense of order.

Plus, you’ll always be setting a positive tone for the day! 

Kindergarten Classroom Management Strategies 

Keeping your classroom productive depends on strong classroom management strategies.

Where you have a visual or auditory cue like a clapping pattern or call and response phrase, you need to be able to get your students’ attention.

You might even have a different system depending on what part of your classroom you’re managing.

Check out the tips below! 

1. Voice Levels – Establishing a system for voice levels in the classroom is important. If it gets too loud, things can get chaotic really fast. So, having different levels like a 0 for silence, 1 for whispering, and 2 for normal conversation can be an easy visual cue. You can teach students to recognize these signs when you are working on kindergarten classroom procedures. Then, students can adjust their volume accordingly. 
2. Active Listening  – Active listening is something your kindergarteners have never had to do before. So, teaching students to actively listen as a kindergarten classroom procedure is important. Teach students to face the speaker, make eye contact, and keep their bodies still. You can find fun ways to do this that don’t sound so “harsh” or “strict.” It can always be helpful to use some of your call-outs or student-response chants. 
3. Raising Hands – Nothing is worse than when students get the blurts. Blurting out one story leads to several other stories being blurted. Therefore, you need to teach students to raise their hands and wait patiently to be called on as part of your kindergarten classroom procedure. 
4. Group Work Expectations  – Having students work together is great. However, you need to make sure you have clear kindergarten classroom procedures for working in groups. Why? Because more than one student in a space can lead to big time distraction! Teach students they need to make sure they are sharing materials, taking turns, and using their kind voices and words! This will make group work more enjoyable for everyone. 
5. Independent Work Kindergarten Classroom Procedures  – Sometimes you need to assess students on an individual basis. Therefore, you need to set routines for independent work. These kindergarten classroom procedures include: completing assignments at their desks, using classroom resources, and asking for help when it’s needed. 
6. Classroom Jobs – Kindergarten students are eager to help, and it’s important they learn how to help. You can set kindergarten procedures and routines for students to take on responsibilities. Have students rotate from job to job so all students get their turn. This helps promote a sense of ownership for the classroom and its environment. 
7. Use Positive Reinforcement When Teaching Kindergarten Classroom Procedures  – There are a million systems out there that are designed to reward positive behavior. You can use verbal praise, stickers, or a class reward chart. Just make sure you are always prepared to give students a little something. Never give too much or you’ll have to take them to a theme park on the last day of school. 
8. Consequences for Misbehavior  – Students are going to have bad days. That means you need to have some consequences that are easy to follow. One way to make sure that happens is to clearly state what the consequences for not following kindergarten procedures are. Make sure you are always following through consistently to avoid hard feelings or negative feelings. Your classroom consequences might include: verbal warnings, loss of privileges, or communicating with parents. 
9. Conflict Resolution  – When students disagree with each other, you want to make sure you give them some conflict resolution skills. This can be something like “I” statements, listening to others, and finding ways to compromise. These are all great kindergarten classroom procedures to teach when there is a conflict because it will last the students their entire lives. 
10. Time Management  – Time is of the essence when you are a kindergarten teacher. I mean, you have to get these kids reading books! So, you want to encourage students to use their time effectively by setting timers for activities and providing visual schedules for the day. Looking at the visual schedule might be a great kindergarten classroom procedure you want students to practice doing. 
11. Seating Arrangements for Stronger Kindergarten Classroom Management – We all know that some students just can’t sit by each other. That’s why you need to establish a seating arrangement that promotes positive behavior and minimizes distractions. You’ll probably have to adjust this arrangement as needed. If you feel like it’s needed, you can switch the seating arrangement up once a quarter or once a semester. 
12. Movement Breaks – Kindergartens are five, maybe six years old for the most part. They are not capable of just sitting. That’s why a kindergarten classroom procedure you need is to schedule regular movement breaks throughout the day to help students get rid of some energy and refocus on learning. 
13. Transition Routines – Establishing clear routines to transition between activities is an important kindergarten classroom procedure. You can do this by using songs, chimes, or countdowns to signal changes throughout the day. 

Having these classroom management practices in place and using them consistently will make for an organized classroom focused on learning.

When you have that, students are more likely to thrive! 

How to Teach Use of Kindergarten Classroom Supplies

There are so many new things your Kindergartners are going to be using. How do you teach them how to use it all?

By using Kindergarten classroom procedures and practice, practice, and practice.

What should you be teaching your students to use? 

1. Proper Pencil and Crayon Grip  – Teaching students the correct way to hold pencils and crayons is so important. This will help them with handwriting and more! Make sure you are emphasizing the tripod grip for better control and handwriting development.
2. Scissor Safety and Usage  – One material you’ll have to practice using over and over again is scissors. They are sharp and no matter how “childlike” they are, they can do some damage. Teach students how to hold scissors safely when teaching kindergarten classroom procedures. Have them cut paper with control and return the scissors where they belong after they are finished. 
3. Glue Usage – What kindergarten doesn’t love using glue! You can do so much you’re not supposed to with it which is exactly why you need to have a kindergarten classroom procedure for it. You can do this by demonstrating the appropriate use of glue sticks and liquid glue. While doing this, make sure you emphasize the need for small amounts and neat application.
4. Using Markers and Dry-Erase Boards – Dry erase markers are not dangerous (unless consumed), but they do dry out fast and can be expensive if you don’t have a routine for taking care of the supplies. Make sure you teach students how to properly use and store markers. For example, students should make sure the caps are secure and they are cleaning the boards the correct way. 
5. Paint and Art Material Usage  – Art is so much fun, but it can be a mess! Having kindergarten classroom procedures for art supplies can help contain the mess. Provide guidelines for using paint, brushes, and other art materials, stressing cleanliness, sharing, and proper storage. Make sure to express to students how important it is to keep these things nice so you can use them again and again. 
6. Kindergarten Classroom Procedures for Manipulatives and Learning Materials  – Learning is so much better when you have manipulatives and hands-on activities. Because these pieces are small and will be used throughout the year, make sure you teach students how to handle and use various manipulatives and learning materials responsibly. When you teach students about these learning tools, make sure you pay attention to how you treat them (not putting them in your mouth or throwing them) and where they go when the activity is done. Putting away manipulatives should be a kindergarten procedure you practice. 
7. Paper Usage  – Paper is something students are going to handle a lot of. From books to notes to assignments, paper is everywhere! Make sure you think about kindergarten classroom procedures and routines for the following: how to turn pages in books, properly tearing paper from notebooks, and avoiding wasting resources. 
8. Technology Usage for Kindergarten Classroom Procedures  – We live in a technology driven world. Therefore it would be irresponsible to not teach students how to use various types of technology. To make sure technology use runs smoothly, teach students how to handle devices, how to behave online, and where to return their devices. When students put them away, make sure they plug in anything that needs charged as well. This is important so it is ready for the next day. 
9. Classroom Library  – Having a classroom library is so important. You want to make sure your students have access to awesome books to get them and keep them excited about reading. However, the library can become an ugly place. Make sure you teach students how to select and return books to the classroom library. You also want to model how to treat books with respect so you can keep your classroom full of fun books for all your students. 
10. Clean-Up and Organization  – A clean and organized space is important to maintain to make sure all your kindergarten procedures can run smoothly. Make sure you teach students how to help you keep everything clean and organized. Students can do this by putting things in the right spots and taking care of materials. 

Practicing these procedures consistently whenever the various objects are in use is the best way to ensure that you have strong kindergarten classroom procedures.

Plus, you’re creating a positive learning environment and promoting responsibility. 

Kindergarten Classroom Procedures for Recess

Recess is an exciting time for students which means it can be easy to lose control. That’s why you need Kindergarten classroom procedures and routines to get to recess.

You’ll also want to talk to students about following any school-specific expectations…and a few more things like the following:

1. Playground Rules and Safety  – It might seem weird to have “rules” when it’s supposed to be free time, but you want to make sure students stay safe. Make sure you review and practice the rules for using various playground equipment safely. During this time, you want to emphasize taking turns, sharing, and being aware of others around you. 
2. Creating Boundaries at Recess – Not all schools have fences and some areas are for the “big kids.” Make sure your students know where they are allowed to go and where they can’t go. This helps keep everyone safe. 
3. Games and Activities – For some, this is the first “structured” recess they have had and they might not know what to do. Teach your students age-appropriate games and activities they can play together. Explain the rules and expectations for participation. You can also take this opportunity to teach students about sportsmanship. 
4. Conflict Resolution – Playground fights are some of the most common boxing rings for students. Teach students how to resolve conflicts peacefully with their words, being active listeners, and helping each other as well as the playground monitor. 
5. Inclusion and Kindness – To help reduce the amount of conflict you see on the playground, make it your kindergarten procedure and routine to be inclusive and kind. Make sure you foster a positive recess environment by helping kids include everyone and teach students the importance of kindness. 
6. Clean Up After Recess – Most schools have a recess bin that students can grab balls, jump ropes, and more from! However, it’s important to refer back to your clean up kindergarten classroom procedure and remind students they need to do that outside as well. This will help maintain a clean outdoor space. 
7. Transitioning Back to Class – Going back to class can be hard because students want to stay outside. Make sure you have a kindergarten classroom procedure that tells students how to come back to school. This should include the following: lining up calmly, using quiet voices, and washing hands when they get back inside. 
8. Weather Considerations – Sometimes the weather isn’t so nice outside. Make sure your students know what they need to have with them. Students may need winter gear, water bottles when it’s hot, and maybe some rain gear as well. This is all decided by the district, but you should teach students what to do too. 
9. Kindergarten Classroom Procedures for Emergencies  – At times there are going to be emergencies. This can be for weather, a fire, or something we don’t want to talk about. Make sure students know where to go when these events happen. It’s important to practice them during your designated times, but also on your own too. 

By practicing these recess procedures consistently, you will help create a safe, enjoyable, and well-structured outdoor playtime for your kindergarten students.

Kindergarten Procedures and Routines for the Cafeteria 

When you go to lunch, you want to make sure the space is being respected and everyone is getting time to have their lunch.

This means, you want to make sure you have a calm cafeteria that still has room for socialization. 

1. Hand Washing or Sanitizing – So many germs live on our hands! Make it a kindergarten procedure and routine to wash or sanitize their hands before they eat. With this, you can show them the right way to wash their hands to eliminate germs. 
2. Getting Their Food – Knowing the process to get lunch can be a big part of getting time to eat and keeping trays off the floor. You also want a kindergarten procedure for when students bring their own lunch. This makes sure you can have a happy lunch time. 
3. Finding a Seat  – Once students have food, make sure you practice finding a spot to sit. Students should know where they are expected to sit and why it’s important to stay there while they are eating. 
4. Table Manners – Not everyone has someone to teach them good manners. Make it a kindergarten classroom procedure to teach students to eat using forks and spoons, chewing with their mouth closed, and not talking with their mouth full of food. 
5. Voice Levels in the Cafeteria – Just like you did in the classroom, make sure you have expectations for voice level in your classroom, there should be one for the cafeteria as well. Make sure you talk about appropriate voice levels in the lunchroom to make sure everyone can enjoy their meal and hear their conversations. 
6. Clean Up – It’s important students understand that you need to make sure all of your spaces stay clean. Teach your students to clean up after  themselves when they are finished eating. They can do this by making sure trash is picked up and thrown away, trays are returned, and the tables and seats are wiped down. 
7. Recycling and Composting  – You can teach students to be good to the Earth while they are learning how to be great kindergarten students with kindergarten classroom procedures. If applicable, teach students how to recycle items and put others in compost. This will teach students the importance of sorting waste and being a friend to the environment. 
8. Asking for Help – Everyone needs help sometimes. Always encourage students to ask for help from teachers, cafeteria staff, or peers if they need help to open containers, reach items, or clean up spills. 
9. Transitioning Back to Class – Everything has to go back to class eventually. So, it’s important to practice going from lunch back to school. Make sure you talk about lining up quietly, using quiet voices, and washing hands when they get back inside. 

By practicing these important Kindergarten routines and procedures for the cafeteria, you will help create a well-organized, safe, and enjoyable lunch experience for everyone while fostering responsibility and independence. 

Bathroom Rules for Kindergarten Classroom Procedure 

Bathroom breaks are needed to do the normal but also just to get up and stretch. However, you can’t be in both bathrooms at once and everyone going one at a time can take forever!

So, here are some Kindergarten classroom procedures for you to think about when it comes time for a potty break. 

1. Asking For Permission – When students need to use the restroom during an unscheduled time, it’s important they do so in a way that is courteous. Having a designated hand signal or verbal request is great for minimizing the disruption. 
2. Bathroom Pass or Sign-Out – For many reasons, it’s important to know where our students are at. Having a bathroom pass or a sign-out sheet for students to use can be great for keeping track of students for unscheduled bathroom breaks. 
3. Hallway Behavior Kindergarten Procedure and Routine – How students act in the hallway can be a problem unless they have an expectation. Make sure you instruct and model how students should walk to and from the bathroom. This includes walking quietly to not disturb other classes that are in session. 
4. Privacy and Respect – Sometimes students get a little crazy in the bathroom. It’s important to teach students that they need to be respectful of others’ privacy while they are in the bathroom. No one should be peeking under or over doors. 
5. Proper Toilet Use  – Now this might sound a bit strange, but some of these students were putting Legos down the toilet yesterday. Remind students that you need to be respectful of the space and alway flush the toilet when finished. It might not be a bad idea to also talk about how to properly use toilet paper. 
6. Handwashing Procedure and Routine – Keeping germs at bay is important! After using the bathroom, teach students to always wash their hands. You can teach and model how to properly wash hands and encourage students to sing the ABC’s to know they have washed for long enough. 
7. Cleanliness – Bathrooms can become icky in a matter of minutes. Talk to students about being respectful of the space they spend much of their time in. This may include talking about picking up trash and reporting any messes to the teacher or custodian in a respectful manner. 
8. Returning to Class – Going on an adventure in the hallway is great; however, you don’t want students to get lost. Teach students to return to class quickly and quietly after using the bathroom. This minimizes disruptions to your learning environment as well as other learning environments. 
9. Monitoring and Support – Sometimes with the bathroom, a good kindergarten classroom procedure is the buddy system. This is very true during the beginning of the school year. The buddy system helps students stay accountable for all the kindergarten procedures and routines that you have set for using the bathroom. 

Practice makes perfect! So, during those first few weeks of school, maybe take a few scheduled breaks just to get into the routine of how to behave and keep clean when using the school restroom. 

Kindergarten Routines and Procedures for Dismissal 

You’ve finally reached the end of the day! You want it to be as smooth as the rest of your day was. So, make sure you have a procedure in place for the following events. 

1. Gathering Belongings – Getting everything together so students can exit with ease can be difficult. There’s a lot of little bodies trying to gather everything. Using a system for collecting coats, backpacks, and other belongings is important to end the day on a high note. 
2. Checking for Notes and Homework  – The last thing you want is for notes and homework that need to go home to compile. It just creates a bigger mess for you. You’ll want to make sure your students check their folders, cubbies, or mailboxes for anything that needs to go home. 
3. Quiet Waiting Kindergarten Procedures and Routines  – Because there are so many little bodies to get ready, you know it’s going to take a hot second to get everything done. Teach students to wait quietly on their desks or in a designated area while they are waiting to be dismissed. This can be a good time to engage in a quiet activity so their little bodies don’t get the wiggles! This activity can be reading a book, working on a puzzle, or doing a morning activity they missed one day. 
4. Lining Up! – A big part of being in kindergarten is learning how to line up. When students line up to leave, you want them to be in an orderly line with space between them so their little hands don’t get too touchy. Make sure everyone is quiet and then leave the classroom together. 
5. Attendance Check – You never want to accidentally leave a little in the classroom. They sometimes like to hide because they never want to leave the safe, structured, and organized environment you’ve created. So, always do a quick check before you leave your classroom. 
6. Walking Safely  – At the end of the day, students are eager to freely move about the cabin if you will. Make sure you teach and model to students they need to walk calmly and quietly so they don’t accidentally hurt someone on the way to drop off. 
7. Designated Dismissal Locations  – This is more for parents than for students, but sometimes they need to be trained too. Make sure you have clearly talked about and shown where to stand when going to dismissal locations. Where parents are supposed to go is important, but where children stand is too. You don’t want someone to get hurt because they are in an area where a driver can’t see them. Places like the bus area, parent pick-up zone, or after-school program should be clearly communicated.
8. Safe Hand-Off  – You never want to send a student with the wrong person. So, make sure you have a safe hand off procedure for your students.  This may involve using a sign-out sheet or you seeing who a student is going with so nothing terrible happens.
9. End of the Day Goodbye Kindergarten Routines and Procedures – Just like we want our students to greet each other, make sure you also teach students to say goodbye to their teacher and classmates before leaving for the day. This helps to keep building that positive environment in your classroom and leaves the students feeling like a part of a community.

These dismissal Kindergarten classroom procedures make your life way easier at the end of the day.

Make sure you practice them the first week of school consistently so you can ensure all your students get home safely at the end of the day.

This minimizes concussion and creates order. 

In Conclusion

Having Kindergarten routines and procedures for every aspect of your day is so important to minimize stress and maximize learning.

Bookmark this post. Use the list above to help you make sure you are not missing a beat when it comes to organizing your day.

You and your students will love the happy community they create in your classroom! Happy teaching!

XO – Kisha

kisha@phonicstofluency.com