Strong classrooms rely on routines that make learning visible. When students know what’s expected and teachers can see understanding in real time, instruction gets sharper and momentum builds.
As you plan for the year ahead, the goal isn’t to introduce a new workflow or overhaul what already works. It’s to establish a routine that fits into real instruction and supports consistent learning over time. A Class Companion routine is designed to do exactly that by helping teachers surface student thinking, support revision, and respond instructionally while learning is still in progress.
Teachers can build this routine using a free Class Companion account. You can create assignments, give feedback, and establish the weekly rhythm before deciding whether to go further.
What a Class Companion Routine Is
Too often, feedback comes after the moment has passed. Students move on, and teachers are left guessing what actually stuck.
A Class Companion routine is a repeatable instructional loop used on a regular basis, often weekly and sometimes more frequently as it becomes familiar. This routine is designed to keep feedback, revision, and instruction connected.
It works because setup happens during planning, practice happens during instruction, and insights guide what comes next. It integrates directly into lessons and planning cycles teachers already use.
The Class Companion Routine at a Glance
While generic AI tools may appear helpful on the surface, they often introduce significant legal and instructional risks because they are not designed for special education workflows.
1. Plan
- Upload a warm-up, exit ticket, or short check you already use, or describe the skill and generate a prompt
- Select or customize a rubric
- Set feedback preferences
2. Practice
- Students complete the task during class
- Students revise at least once while learning is still active
- Teachers use class time to observe patterns and support revision
3. Learn
- Review the assignment insights summary
- Identify where understanding is strong and where it needs reinforcement
- Adjust instruction, plan re-teaching, or group students based on the data
This loop stays consistent even as assignments change, which frees teachers to focus on instruction rather than logistics.
How the Routine Works in Practice
The Class Companion routine fits into instructional moments that already exist, meaning the loop stays consistent even as tasks change.
During Planning
Teachers create assignments by uploading existing materials or generating prompts aligned to current instruction. Rubrics and feedback settings are set once and reused over time. Planning stays focused on learning goals rather than managing tools.
During Instruction
Students complete short writing tasks during warm-ups, independent practice, revision cycles, or exit tickets. They revise based on immediate feedback while learning is still active. Teachers use class time to respond to student thinking and support revision rather than manage grading workflows.
After Instruction
Insights provide a clear view of class-wide patterns and individual needs. Teachers use these signals to guide conferencing, form small groups, plan re-teaching, or adjust upcoming lessons. Some extend the routine to homework so students can receive feedback beyond instructional minutes.
Across each of these moments, the same loop applies: short practice, immediate feedback, revision, and instructional response.
What Your First Week Can Look Like
You don’t need a perfect plan or a full rollout to get started. One intentional week is enough to set the tone and show students what this routine is about. If you are new to Class Companion, a free account is enough to run this first week. Start small, see how students respond, and let the routine guide what you try next.
- Start with a task you already plan to teach. When the work is familiar, students can focus on the feedback and revision rather than learning something new. Add the task to Class Companion, select a rubric, and set feedback preferences so expectations are clear from the start.
- During class, students submit their work and revise at least once. Take a few minutes to model how to read feedback and what it looks like to act on it. Ask students to name one improvement they made. These small moments help establish revision as a normal, expected part of learning.
- After the assignment, review insights to see where students are gaining confidence and where they need more support. Let that information guide what comes next, whether that’s reinforcing a skill, slowing down, or regrouping students for targeted instruction.
Sustaining the Routine Over Time
The routines that last are the ones that feel steady, not heavy.
Many teachers begin with one predictable moment each week and keep it there until it feels natural. As students grow more comfortable with the process, the routine starts to run itself. Feedback arrives on time, revision becomes expected, and planning feels more focused because the signals are clearer.
Over time, the routine becomes part of how learning is monitored and adjusted. It’s not something extra to manage, but something that supports the work you’re already doing.
New Year, New Routines: A Short Challenge to Build Momentum
If you find yourself noticing small shifts through this routine (students revising more willingly, feedback conversations getting easier) there’s a short Class Companion challenge coming in early 2026 that’s designed to build on that momentum.
The challenge isn’t about doing more or doing things perfectly. It’s about committing to a steady rhythm for a few weeks, paying attention to what changes, and seeing what consistent practice makes possible for your students and for you.
Starting now means you’ll step into it with confidence, grounded in a routine that already fits your classroom.
