#104: My 3 non-negotiable exit routines to make the final 15 minutes feel less like crowd control

Does this sound familiar? The final moments of your lesson feel chaotic... unfinished, rushed work, students hovering by the door, mess everywhere, disruption, noise, and disorganisation leaving you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated?

If this sounds all too familiar, you are not alone. The good news is that with consistent, simple exit routines, you can transition out of your lesson calmly and purposefully without feeling like a bouncer at the door.

IN THIS EPISODE, I DISCUSS:

1.  Why exit routines are essential:
Small, consistent steps at the end of a lesson do more than tidy up; they reinforce engagement, help wrap up the learning, and make classroom transitions less stressful.

2. My 3 non-negotiable exit routines:

• Self-reflection for early finishers – Teach students to ask, "Am I really done?" with an anchor chart that encourages independence and self-checking.
• Plenaries that stick – Wrap up the learning in a way that reinforces key concepts and expectations without falling into the trap of "death by plenary."
• The ‘row by row you go’ method – Use a clear, calm system for exiting the classroom that ensures it stays tidy and ready for the next group.

3. Practical tools to streamline your routines:
From self-reflection prompts to ready-to-go plenary resources, learn how to save time while keeping students engaged and ensuring smooth transitions.

When you embed these three routines into every lesson, you can:

✅ Reinforce behaviour and work expectations consistently
✅ Avoid the chaos that often accompanies lesson endings
✅ Create a calm, controlled environment that allows for smooth transitions

Ready to take the stress out of your lesson endings? Grab the resources mentioned in this episode inside The Behaviour Club or check out:

The Exit Routine Bundle: the-unteachables.com/exit

The Early Finishers Bundle: the-unteachables.com/earlyfinishers

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