A routine is an instructional strategy developed to increase the level of participation in activities for students who require consistency and repetition in order to learn. Any activity can be designed to be a routine. An activity is not a routine unless it meets the following criteria.

1. There is a clear signal to the student that the activity is starting.

2. The steps of the activity occur in the same sequence.

3. Each step is done is the same way each time (same materials, same person, same place).

4. Assistance is given the same way each time until the student is ready for a lower level of prompt.

4. The pacing of instruction is precisely maintained until the activity is finished (no side conversations, going off to get something you forgot, or spontaneously adding new or different steps that won't happen the next time the activity is done).

5. There is a clear signal to the student that the activity is finished.