by Chantelle Bauer, Deputy Head of Junior School - Teaching and Learning
Routines are an important part of our daily lives, providing structure and stability. This is especially true for children in their formative years, who benefit from having consistent and predictable routines in both their school and home environments. At Toowoomba Grammar School Junior School, we believe that routines are essential for helping students thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
One of the key ways in which routines help students is by providing a sense of security and comfort. Children feel more confident and secure when they know what to expect, and routines help to provide this predictability. This is especially important for students in their early years of school, who are still adjusting to the demands of the school environment. By establishing consistent routines at home, parents can help their children to feel more comfortable and confident at school.
In addition to the benefits for individual students, routines also help to create a positive and productive learning environment for the whole class. When students know what is expected of them, they are more likely to be on task and engaged in their learning. This in turn helps to create a more positive and supportive classroom atmosphere, which can benefit all students. By working together to establish consistent routines both at home and at school, parents and teachers can help to create an environment that is supportive and conducive to learning.
Whether we design them intentionally or weave them into our lives organically, we all enjoy the benefits of building purposeful routines.
We are in the prime phase of the year for building purposeful routines with our students, and for ourselves. I am consistently impressed in the ability of students, teachers and families to settle so quickly into routines at the beginning of the year. It's not always easy! So, don’t be concerned if you are still working on forming and establishing purposeful routines at home to support children getting ready for school each day, or evening routines to settle for bed at night. Routines take practice, patience and persistence, complemented by lavish amounts of encouragement and praise.
Some tips for building routines, feel free just to consider those most relevant for you and your family.
Develop a schedule
- Schedules help to map our time, and kids benefit from knowing what’s coming up (we all do probably).
Organise materials so they can be easily accessed.
- Routines flow more easily when you can access what’s required quickly and easily.
Use checklists or visuals
- These little reminders reduce the cognitive load of what we need to remember, which is particularly important for children so they can focus their energy (brain power).
Be consistent, but flexible
- At first glance this sounds contradictory, but consistency is keeping the routine going, whereas flexibility is the ability to improvise or adjust to keep moving towards the goal. Children can get derailed at times when something is missing in their routine, remind them we are ‘flexible thinkers’ and we’ll find an alternative to keep going.
Celebrate the routine
- Some routines are fun, others are not as much…either way, celebrate them all. Congratulate your child on accomplishing the routine, especially when it was hard to get there!
Latest Blog
TGS Mates Program - Character Building Education
Current research into character education has shown that educators should not be focusing solely on preparing students for their Year 12 final exams but should be supporting them to become humans who exhibit good character and virtues to contribute to creating a healthier society (The Jubilee Centre, 2022). The Jubilee Centre, which is attached to the University of Birmingham in the UK, maintains that good character is the foundation for improved attainment, better behaviour, increased…
Our TGS Old Boys' Wall of Achievement
The next time you visit the School grounds, pause for a moment at the Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys' Wall of Achievement. This concept was the initiative of the then Deputy Headmaster, Mr Roger Buttenshaw, and was supported by the Board of Trustees, Headmasters Mr Hugh Rose and Mr Peter Hauser, and the TGSOBA - Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys' Association. The opening of the Wall of Achievement took place in 2003. Thousands of TGS Old Boys have gone on to lead productive and valuable…
A Musical Reflection
As Director of Performing Arts, there is perhaps no bigger undertaking than a School musical. It requires an enormous effort from a huge team of teachers and students, and to get all these moving parts heading in the same direction is certainly no mean feat. The 2023 co-production of Footloose was my first time involved in a Toowoomba Grammar School and Fairholme College musical, and I found it to be a very rewarding, though exhausting, experience. The process began in Term 3, 2022, as my…
TGS Success in GPS Sport
In 2023, Toowoomba Grammar School witnessed a remarkable resurgence in several of our sports programs, marking a year of triumph and growth. Although an elusive GPS premiership did not fall our way, a number of our 1st teams competed to the final whistle in Round 9 of their respective competitions, vying for their premierships. The achievements of our boys on the field and court were nothing short of exceptional, reflecting the commitment, dedication and character development that participation…
An Exceptional Learning Experience
As a member of the Junior School Leadership Team at Toowoomba Grammar School, my role involves ensuring that the Junior School’s Teaching and Learning programs are designed, implemented and managed effectively. This role is grounded in the vision, mission, and values of TGS and is crucial in supporting the Head of Junior School and the Director of Studies in providing an exceptional learning experience for our boys. At TGS Junior School, we prioritise the use of explicit teaching to ensure that…
An Inclusive Education
Toowoomba Grammar School is proud to introduce the newest addition to our education team, Amanda Gibson. Amanda commenced in Term 4, 2023 in the pivotal role of Head of Diverse Learners and will bring new direction and focus to the position in alignment with our commitment to inclusive education, aligning seamlessly with our Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and the Inclusive Education Policy. “I am very excited about developing this role,” said Amanda. “I have a passion for fostering environments where…
Get Involved in Everything
As Senior Prefect at Toowoomba Grammar School, I have had the opportunity to witness the benefits of being an all-rounder firsthand. With the various activities and programs the School offers, the ability to be involved in as many things as possible is not only enjoyable but brings about numerous benefits that extend far beyond the school years. Ranging from sports to drama and debating, participating in anything the School has to offer is an excellent way to make friends and build networks of…
The Importance of Knowledge
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed traveling great distances. As a child growing up in rural New South Wales, this was inevitable. The region was speckled with towns, some more vibrant than others, and diverse landscapes where hillside ruins whispered tales of bygone eras. Over time, these landscapes and towns transformed into familiar scenes, with even minor changes in the community and environment growing more noticeable during each visit. Education parallels this journey, as…
Senior TGS Students' Advice for Starting Senior School
Starting at a new school can be a time of mixed feelings – very exciting, but also quite daunting and challenging. Here are some tips from some Year 7 Grammar boys who started Senior School in 2023. Get involved in different sports and activities Toowoomba Grammar School provides many sports and activities that any student can participate in. As a current Year 7 student, I highly recommend trying out as many different sports and activities as you can. Throughout my first year in high school, I…
