15 Tips for Lining Up Your Class

Today’s question in the Advice from Real Teachers series is from me instead of from a Facebook fan. I remember the trials and tribulations of having to get kids in a line and out the door, quickly and in an orderly manner. So I posted this question on Facebook:

“What strategies do you use for getting kids to line up in an orderly fashion when you are going to lunch or to a special class like art or music?”

Apparently I was not the only one with this problem because there were almost 150 responses! Many of the responses were similar, such as the “mystery walker” idea you’ll read about below, but there were some really unique ones, too. I compiled 15 of the best responses in this blog post.

Here are the top 15 responses in no particular order. If you would like to read ALL of the responses, click this link to see them on Facebook.

1. Jess Bowman:  We go into Ninja Stealth Mode. I explain to the kids that the best ninjas are quiet and never detected. We “sneak” past other classrooms along the way, not disturbing others. They love doing Ninja Stealth Mode. Any kids that get too excited and start making fight moves are reminded that a ninja is disciplined. If we happen to walk past someone in the hallway, I pretend that they can’t see us moving because we are so stealthy.
2. Jackie Hutslar: I choose a “mystery walker” each day. The kids don’t know who it is until I reveal it at the end of the day. If that person has used good hallway procedure every time we traveled somewhere, he/she gets a treat like a skittle or sticker. If not, they don’t get it. Since the students don’t know who it is, they ALL have to follow procedures in case it’s them!!
3. Laura Grover: Best idea I heard that I actually use is this. I challenged my students to line up perfectly. Straight, eyes forward, no crowding, etc. I used my laptop camera to take a picture. Next, make an 8×10 color print. Mount on construction paper, laminate and attach a ruler for a handle. Now all I do is hold up the picture and say “I’m waiting for this.” AND THEY DO IT!! In very little time, too. I have title 1 sixth graders which makes this all the more impressive. They have a visual of exactly what I expect. 🙂
4. Jillyn Theresa: Hands on hips, zip up lips, standing tall, ready for the hall! We walk down the hall with a hand on hip and the other finger on lips. I usually call them to line by table, ladies first, by birthday month, by color shirt, etcetera…
5. Kathy McDonald: One student has a weekly job ‘tapper.’ If a student is wiggling or talking, the tapper taps their shoulder gently and they go to the back of the line. We don’t leave the room until the tapper gives a thumbs up. If the same students end up at the back, i speak with them privately about expectations. If all goes well traveling, then the class can earn a marble. I teach 4th grade. They love it!
6. Karen Brown: We line up using the 4S ‘s – Single file, (looking) Straight Ahead, Silent and Settled. At this time of year I can just hold up 4 fingers.
7. Jamie Doffing: Three of my classroom jobs are line leader, door holder and caboose.  Every one else falls in line between those positions. I don’t leave the room until I have a straight line, voices off and heads forward.
8. Magali Tuke: Mine line up but can be unfocused or chatty. I do an action eg make bunny ears, the whole class need to copy and most quickly do and the few chatters quickly realise it’s all quiet and do it too. Fun to mix up the actions – hands on head, arms crossed, silly face, stick tongue out etc. If they are having a particularly bad day though they may have to sit down and try again to ensure all are quiet before we set off.
9. Ana Duran: I play a freeze game. They have to follow me in a line and do whatever I tell them to do, in Spanish. When I say, parem, they all freeze. The kid who is out of the line has to go to the back of the line. They love this game plus it keeps them in line, and learning Spanish.
10. Terra Hailey: I make fun of how sloppy it is and tell them I need to have a talk with their math teacher about their line…then they make me feel like an idiot because it’s “actually a line segment…”
11. Cheryl Hamm: We are students not grapes. We walk lines not bunches.
12. Sarah Roach: Practice, practice, practice. We take for granted that kids will remember procedures, but taking time to have them line up, wait for quiet, and then walk. Sometimes we need to go back, but not often!  The kids do want to do well, and they do want to get to the fun class or recess!
13. Barbara Wilkins: I used to use that opportunity to put them in line by various categories. I might put them in line by the first letter of their parent’s names, the student’s middle names, favorite foods, vacation destinations, etc.
14. Chasity Sherrill: I always use something different every day!! Some example would be what months there birthday is, or line up if their favorite color is red, green, blue, etc. I also use clothing items like if they have on long sleeves, a jacket, jeans or shorts that day!! The kids love it and it helps them with self-awareness skills!
15. Karen Young: Alpha by last name, alpha by first name, month of birth, table number (prime, composite, factors of x number, multiple of y number), rows, columns, how far they got on assignments, uniform colored shirts, if they love me, if they want to go home, LOL!