Today, host John Norlin shares a strategy called Grandma's Rule, a practical, research-backed approach to building predictability into the classroom through first-then scheduling and visual routines. John walks through why predictable environments lead to regulation, engagement, and ultimately learning, and how educators can set this up in a way that increases student motivation from the start.

This episode is part of the CharacterStrong Weekly series — short, immediately applicable strategies educators can put to work the same day.

In this episode, John offers important reminders for educators and leaders:

• Students crave predictability, when they can anticipate what is coming and why, they are better regulated and more ready to learn.
• First-then scheduling makes routines visible and explicit, giving students something to reference and helping educators get ahead of behavior proactively.
• Sequencing preferred and less preferred activities strategically increases student motivation without requiring more time or resources.

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