Tips for Teachers: Unboxing Fresh Routines Blog Series

Why It Matters: As teachers get ready for a new year, many of us focus our attention (rightfully) on the routines we want our students to build. From identity to process to community, the work that students do is central and important. But it’s also important to turn inward and look at ourselves–the teachers and instructional leaders–and consider the routines that will help us have the greatest impact on our writers. What do we truly want to accomplish this year and how will we get there?

Behind the Scenes: The routines educators create are not always at the forefront of planning. They are “teaching moves” that are acquired over time and subconsciously find their way into teaching practices alongside moving writers and instruction along. Along with spending time considering routines for kids, examining our own routines will lead us toward making more intentional and conscious decisions.

Zoom In: An overarching routine that will enable us to work effectively is to set aside time from the beginning of the year to reflect. Whether this is five minutes of jotting notes each day, a weekly conversation with colleagues or a mentor, or dedicated time at the beginning or end of a unit, a small investment of reflection time will pay off exponentially for us and our writers. This dedicated time creates the space to take stock of what is going well and explore opportunities to improve. 

As we plan for the year, consider three routines to ground and guide our teaching practices:

Routine #1: Commit to writing time.

Students deserve daily writing time and a predictable structure to follow.

Make it a routine from day one to be uncompromisingly committed to protecting this time. It’s very easy to give the time away to counseling lessons, library visits, mystery readers, and an infinite list of other demands. The reality of school is that time will need to be shared with others for “extra” classes and events — but that time should be shared evenly among all subjects, not just a sacrifice of writing time.

Similarly, managing time within a writing block requires self-awareness and clarity around priorities. If it seems like conferring, peer collaboration, or sharing is constantly being cut for the sake of time, make it a routine to use timers, reminders, and coaching support to keep lessons focused and direct.

Routine #2: Know your goals.

We all enter the year with the intention of helping writers grow as much as possible between the fall and the spring. Establishing a routine of articulating goals will not only help our students know where we want them to go, but will also help us know how to get them there. It will also help us center our assessment practices around the work we prioritize.

Clearly defining goals is a process of moving from the big picture down to the details. Try reflection on this sequence of questions:

1. What do I expect students to learn and do as writers this year? This question grounds us in our standards and reminds us that we have big work to do across several months (not overnight!).
2. What do I expect students to learn and do as writers within this unit? Spend some time articulating–ideally with colleagues–your goals at the outset of a unit. Make it a routine to teach across the unit by staying grounded in these goals.
3. What do I expect students to learn and do as writers within this lesson? Make it a quick routine each day to remind yourself of the lesson’s focus. It’s so easy to get caught up in the wide range of needs in front of us; having our expectations fresh on our mind (or jotted on a post it where it stays visible!) is a routine that will allow us to navigate through what is truly a priority and what needs to be a goal for another day.

Be clear about your goals with your students. The best way to ensure clarity and commit to a focus is to share it with others. Explicitly stating our expectations and sharing ownership with students creates a routine of being grounded in the work of writing.

Routine #3: Build a system for navigating resources.

Whether your school has firm expectations for following a script or more flexible opportunities to use a variety of resources, it’s important to have a plan for working with these tools and maximizing their impact (while also making the time it takes to prepare both manageable and meaningful). Build this routine with these strategies:

1. Know the structure. Understanding the architecture of each unit and lesson will streamline both planning and delivery.
2. Prioritize (less is more). Rather than bringing in several outside resources, start with one or two powerful professional tools.
3. Reconsider slides. Slide decks are time-consuming to create and are often a scaffold for teachers without much (or any) benefit for students. Instead of using (or purchasing) slides, make it a routine to co-create charts or simple visuals with students as you follow the structure of a lesson. Engagement and involvement in creating resources benefits both students and teachers.

One Final Thing: Routines are built around habits, not perfection. The more we practice routines, the more they become part of our teaching identity. As we embark on a new school year, remember that this work is grounded in setting healthy boundaries, engaging in the work of teaching writing with focus and clarity, and remembering to find joy in the growth your students will undoubtedly demonstrate.

Unboxing Fresh Routines Giveaway:

Want to win a copy of When Writing Workshop Isn’t Working (2nd Edition) by Mark Overmyer? Stenhouse Publishers (Routledge) has donated a copy for one lucky reader.

How to Enter:

• Comment on this post by Friday, 8/15/25, 11:59 p.m. EST.

Winner Selection:

• One winner will be chosen randomly and announced at the bottom of my Slice of Life post on Tuesday, 8/19.

Eligibility:

• You must have a U.S. mailing address to win this prize.

If You Win:

• You’ll get an email from me with the subject “TWTBLOG – UNBOXING FRESH ROUTINES.”
• We’ll pick a new winner if you don’t reply with your mailing address within five days.
• Routledge will ship the book to you.