Let me paint you a picture: it’s January. The glitter of winter break is still in your carpet, your coffee cup is back in rotation, and your students… have completely forgotten how to do school.
Every. Single. Year.
The truth is, routines fade over time and long breaks hit the reset button whether we like it or not. That’s why I always reteach my classroom rules and routines in January. But I don’t do it with a long lecture and a list on the board. I do it in a way that feels fresh, collaborative, and even (dare I say?) fun.
Here’s how.
1. Acknowledge the Reset
I start by being real with my students: “Hey, we’ve had a long break. We all need a minute to get back into our groove.” This resets the tone without shame or frustration. It’s not a punishment, just a refresher. I frame it as a team effort to get our class running smoothly again.
Bonus: they appreciate the honesty and usually nod along like, “Yep, I did forget what a pencil is.”
2. Make It Interactive
Instead of just telling them the rules, I give them a chance to experience and reflect on them.
A few favorites:
- Routines Relay: Groups race to model daily routines correctly (entering class, grabbing supplies, turning in work).
- “Rule or Not a Rule?” Game: I read silly or exaggerated classroom scenarios, and students vote whether it is or is not one of our actual expectations.
- Fix the Scenario: I act out or describe a classroom “oops” moment (e.g. interrupting, wandering the room), and they brainstorm how to turn it into a positive behavior.
Laughter + movement = way more memorable than another syllabus talk.
3. Add a Dash of Student Voice
I ask them: “What routines help you learn best?” or “What’s one thing we can all do to make science class run smoother?”
When students help rebuild the structure, they’re way more invested in following it.
4. Anchor It in Science
This is science, after all. So I tie our classroom reset to the scientific method. I tell them we’re collecting data (observing what’s working), forming hypotheses (what might help), testing procedures (routines), and drawing conclusions about what helps our class thrive.
Science brain: activated.
5. Keep It Light
Yes, we’re reteaching. But this isn’t boot camp. I use music, movement, partner chats, even science-themed memes. The goal is to reset, not restart. I want January to feel like a fresh breeze… not a full-on reprogramming.
Final Thoughts
January is the perfect time to press pause, reflect, and reteach what matters most. With a little creativity, you can refresh your classroom culture without boring yourself (or your students) to tears.
So go ahead, revisit those rules. Reinforce those routines. Just don’t forget to have a little fun while you’re at it.
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