Behind the Curtain: How Great Classrooms Can Create Calm Homes

The best classrooms consider all the variables that can help set a student’s day up for success. From the moment a child enters the classroom, teachers work to reduce cognitive load (mental effort) and make expectations clear and predictable. By establishing consistent routines and systems, and explicitly teaching those expectations, teachers strive not simply to keep classrooms running smoothly, but to create increasingly independent learners who know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it without relying on constant adult direction. In this article, we go “behind the curtain” to explore how some of these same classroom strategies can contribute to a calmer home. By bridging the gap between effective school practices and home life, we hope to empower families to build some of the same independence we see in our hallways right in their own living rooms.