K-12 teaching is won in the small transitions

I didn't really understand K-12 work until I had a class go sideways during a simple transition. The lesson itself was fine. The problem was pencils, hallway noise, one student coming back from the office, another asking to use the restroom, and me trying to keep the next part moving. What helped me was keeping the routine boring and clear. Same entry task, same place for missing work, same way…