The Power of Routines

When experienced Superkids teachers are asked how to get the most out of the program, their advice is often the same: “Don’t skip the routines!” Whether you are teaching the © 2017 edition Daily Routines, or the Daily Warm-Up from the © 2026 edition of Superkids, these simple routines that start each lesson do big work—giving structure to the day, reinforcing critical skills, and providing you with important informal assessment opportunities. In this issue of The Superkids Bulletin, we’re rounding up smart tips and creative ideas from our amazing coaches and super K–2 teachers.

Focus on Informal Assessment

Daily Routines and Daily Warm-Ups are powerful tools for both practice and assessment. Each routine provides review and daily reinforcement of previously taught skills. Just as importantly, they give you a window into how individual students are progressing. By observing students during these quick activities, you can spot strengths, notice areas of struggle, and adjust individualized instruction accordingly.

Keep these related purposes of the Daily Routines and Daily Warm-Ups in mind:

⭐️ Informally assess progress and keep track of what students can do independently.

⭐️ Gather student data every day in an efficient way.

⭐️ Form flexible small groups based on current needs.

⭐️ Plan differentiated activities that target specific skills and provide meaningful practice.

Documenting observations for every student can feel overwhelming in a large class. Superkids coaches often recommend dividing the classroom into four or five sections. Each day, focus on documenting observations for just one section of students.

To make record-keeping simple, use this weekly data catcher to record your informal assessment observations during the Daily Routines. This weekly snapshot provides information at a glance to guide small-group formation and highlight skill areas for differentiated instruction.

Making the Most of Daily Routines

The Daily Routines and Daily Warm-Ups get kids’ brains and pencils moving, while giving you a quick window into what your students know. Best of all, they don’t have to look the same every day. Superkids coaches and teachers from our Facebook community have shared ways to keep routines fresh, focused, and fun. Here are a few tips to make your Daily Routines run smoothly and keep your students engaged.

💪 You may have heard your Superkids trainer say, “The Daily Routines are a warm-up, not a workout.” This portion of the lesson should never feel like a heavily instructional step. Instead, think of it as a quick check-in—a time to informally assess student progress. Notice which students struggle with a particular skill and plan to revisit that skill in small groups or with individual students.

✏️ If timing is a concern, teacher Dara B. suggests posting the handwriting practice portion of the routine on the board each morning. She explains, “After discussing what the sentences say during morning meeting, the students must find time throughout the day to get it copied. It helps teach them time management and gives them something to work on if they finish other work early.”

⏰ For those who prefer whole-class handwriting practice, Debbie G. shares her approach: “I set a timer for seven minutes. I circulate around the room using a highlighter to write the letters for students who have difficulty forming letters. The students trace over them. At the beginning of the year, I set the timer for 10–12 minutes. As the year progresses and they gain confidence, I don’t need to highlight nearly as much.”

⭐️ Other teachers highlight the importance of variety and flexibility. Rachel T. explains, “You have to find different ways to teach and engage the students. Sometimes we do them whole group, and sometimes in small groups while other students are in centers. You can do the daily routine on a smart board, white board, chart paper, student white boards, journal paper…switch it up to keep it fresh.”

🎯 Lisa W. shares how she documents student work: “In the beginning of the school year, I had them use the white boards, but I have since moved on to the ice cream paper in their journals. This way, parents can see their child’s progression and where extra help is needed.” Use these printable Daily Routine Recording Sheets to create booklets for students to use while completing the written portions of the routines.

Psst! Ready for a treat? Something sweet is coming your way this October… be sure to follow us on Facebook so you don’t miss a super special giveaway that can be used during Daily Routines. Here is a hint...🍨!

All Tips and No Tricks!

There is no doubt where the best classroom tips come from—teachers like you! Here are a few more ideas from Superkids classrooms that you could implement right away.

October Fun with Letter-Sounds

Looking for not-so-spooky October activities? Try this playful letter–sound recognition game! Using our “monster parts” printable, you can create a reusable activity that helps students practice and reinforce letter-sounds.