Why Teaching Procedures Is Still the Most Important Thing You’ll Do All Year
If you’ve been in the classroom for a while, the name Harry Wong probably rings loud and clear—like the morning bell on the first day of school. For decades, his book The First Days of School was practically the survival guide for new teachers everywhere. He championed a timeless truth: that clearly teaching procedures and expectations from day one sets the stage for everything else.
"The most successful classes are those where the teacher has a clear idea of what is expected from the students and the students know what the teacher expects from them.
And while education has changed in countless ways since his book first hit shelves, one thing hasn’t—effective routines are still the backbone of a successful classroom.
As Harry Wong famously said:
“The number one problem in the classroom is not discipline; it is the lack of procedures and routines.”
That message isn’t just good advice—it’s backed by research. According to Robert Marzano in Classroom Management That Works, establishing clear procedures has one of the highest impacts on both behavior management and academic achievement. When students know exactly what’s expected, transitions are smoother, disruptions are fewer, and everyone—including you—can focus more on learning.
In fact, Emmer and Evertson (2009) found that teachers who spend the first few weeks of school intentionally teaching and practicing routines experience fewer behavioral problems throughout the year. It’s a small investment of time with a massive return.
Even PBIS.org, which promotes school-wide behavior frameworks, emphasizes that:
“Explicitly teaching and practicing classroom procedures ensures that students know what is expected, reducing ambiguity and increasing positive behavior.”
So whether you’re brand new to the profession or 20 years in, the message is clear: don’t skip the procedures. They’re not just management tools—they’re the foundation for a thriving learning environment.
Need a checklist of all the procedures to plan for as you prepare for a new school year? Then check out the following link to a free resource I created to help you prepare for this upcoming first weeks of school.
