Starting off on the right foot can make or break your day in kindergarten or first grade. One of the best ways to get off to a great start is with a morning meeting. There are basic components of a morning meeting that should be included to help build and strengthen your classroom community. One way to do this is to use the responsive classroom morning meeting methods.
In this blog post, we will delve into the heart of the Responsive Classroom Morning Meeting, exploring its sequential components and its role in nurturing a strong sense of belonging, emotional development, and academic engagement.
What Is A Responsive Classroom?
A Responsive Classroom is an approach that focuses on creating a positive and inclusive environment where students feel safe, engaged, and connected. This approach values social and emotional skills as much as academic ones. A Responsive Classroom makes school a place where everyone feels welcome, respected, and excited to learn!
What Is A Responsive Classroom Morning Meeting?
Morning meeting is a special time at the beginning of the school day when students and teachers gather together to connect, share, and get ready for the day ahead. It's a time to build a positive classroom community, learn social skills, and start the day with a good experience. Many teachers will begin having morning meetings at the beginning of the year, but you can start this routine any time of the school year.
At the core of the Responsive Classroom approach lies the morning meeting—an intentional and purposeful gathering that sets the tone for the day. It's more than a routine; it's a ritual that allows students to connect and share in an engaging way.
Morning meeting activities are like a friendly circle time where everyone gets a chance to say hello, share something about themselves, and participate in fun activities. During a morning meeting, teachers might also give important information or share a short message to set the tone for the day. In elementary school, a class meeting should be short, lasting anywhere from 20-30 minutes a day.
How To Structure A Successful Morning Meeting
The responsive classroom morning meeting typically comprises four sequential components:
- Greeting
- Sharing
- Group Activity
- Morning Message
This structure provides students with a consistent routine that guides their interactions, encourages participation, and ensures an organized start to the day. Let's take a closer look at each of these four components.
Morning Meeting Greetings
Morning meeting greetings are an essential component of the responsive classroom approach, fostering a positive and inclusive classroom culture. At the start of each school day, students and teachers gather together to greet one another. This simple yet powerful practice sets a positive tone, creating a sense of community and connection among the class members. It goes beyond a mere exchange of pleasantries; morning meeting greetings are intentional actions designed to promote social-emotional development and create a supportive learning environment.
Taking the time for fun greetings in the morning has several benefits. First and foremost, it builds a sense of belonging and community within the classroom. By saying hello and acknowledging each student's name, teachers convey that everyone is valued and respected. This daily ritual is a great way to set a positive tone for the day, promoting a welcoming atmosphere that supports learning. Furthermore, morning meeting greetings provide an opportunity for students to practice social skills such as eye contact, speaking clearly, and using polite language. My class loved to give each other a fist bump hello and it soon became their favorite thing during morning meetings!
There are various types of morning meeting greetings suitable for kindergarten or first-grade classrooms. A popular option is the “Circle Greeting,” where students stand in a circle, and each child greets the person next to them. Another option is the “Partner Greeting,” where students pair up and take turns greeting each other. For added fun, teachers can incorporate themed greetings, such as “High-Five Greetings” or “Fist Bump Greetings,” which involve physical actions to make the greetings more engaging.
These activities not only make morning meetings enjoyable but also provide opportunities for students to express themselves in different ways while reinforcing a sense of community. Head over here to read the ultimate list of morning meeting greetings that you can use in your classroom.
Sharing Activities During Morning Meeting
The second component of the responsive classroom morning meeting is sharing, a time when students have the opportunity to express themselves, share their thoughts, and connect with their peers. During the sharing portion, students may discuss a wide range of topics, from personal experiences and accomplishments to their favorite activities or interests. This practice not only helps students develop their communication skills but also strengthens the sense of community within the classroom.
During one of my early teaching experiences, I worked as an aide in a first-grade classroom. The teacher I worked with taught me something very valuable that I took with me through my entire career. She told me that you should always put eyes on every child in your classroom first thing in the morning. The reason for this was to make sure that every child was healthy, and feeling happy and that there were no concerns that I should be aware of. One of the ways I did this each day was during our sharing time in our morning meeting.
Taking the time to share during morning meeting is valuable for several reasons. Firstly, it promotes a culture of open communication, encouraging students to express themselves in a supportive environment. This not only fosters self-confidence but also helps build empathy as students learn to listen and respond to their peers. Additionally, sharing activities allows teachers to gain insights into the students' lives outside the classroom giving them a better understanding of each child. This knowledge can be beneficial in tailoring instruction to individual needs and interests.
One sharing activity is “Show and Tell”, where students bring in an item from home and share why it's special to them. Another option is the “Memory Sharing” activity, where students talk about a memorable experience or event in their lives.
One of our favorite activities was our “Question of the day” where I would pose a question to the students about an upcoming holiday, the season or something we were learning in class. The children had the opportunity to respond and give their opinions. These activities not only make sharing time enjoyable but also provide students with a platform to express themselves, fostering a positive and inclusive classroom environment.
Group Activities During Morning Meeting
The third component of the responsive classroom morning meeting is group activities. This is where students work together on tasks to promote teamwork within the classroom. Group work during morning meetings serves as an effective way for students to work together, build social skills, and learn to appreciate the strengths and contributions of their peers.
When you incorporate group activities into your morning meeting it encourages students to work with a partner or a team. Working together provides a structured way for students to interact with different classmates regularly, helping to build positive relationships and reduce social barriers.
Various group activities are suitable for kindergarten and first-grade morning meetings. “Team Building Games” are a popular choice, such as the classic “Human Knot” where students stand in a circle, grab hands with someone across from them, and work together to untangle the knot without letting go. “Collaborative Art Projects” allow students to create a collective piece of artwork, fostering creativity and cooperation. Teachers can also organize “Group Challenges” like building a tower with building blocks or solving a puzzle together. These activities not only make morning meetings dynamic and engaging but also contribute to a positive classroom culture by reinforcing the importance of working together towards common goals.
Morning Message
The last component of the responsive classroom morning meeting is the morning message. Your morning message is typically written on the board or a large piece of chart paper that's displayed at your meeting spot. In the morning message teachers generally welcome students, share important information about the day's schedule, and highlight any new or special events that will be happening that day. It sets a positive tone for the day and offers a consistent routine that helps students transition into the learning environment.
Teachers write morning messages for various reasons. First, it helps establish clear communication between the teacher and students. By addressing the class directly through the morning message, teachers can share important announcements, reminders, or exciting news. The morning message also serves as a literacy-rich activity, exposing students to written language and modeling proper writing skills. When reading the morning message, teachers can point out important literacy skills like putting a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence and a period at the end.
The Power of Morning Meeting
The responsive classroom morning meeting is not merely a collection of sequential components; it's a deliberate practice that nurtures the hearts and minds of every single child in our classrooms. From the first time you say good morning to the final bell of the school day, morning meetings create a space where students learn not only academic content but also the values of community, empathy, and communication. Your morning meeting time is a great opportunity for you to build connections and a positive classroom climate every single day.
When you begin your morning meeting routines at the start of the year it will soon become your favorite part of the day! Ready. to get started in your classroom? This yearlong curriculum includes daily morning meeting slides for every month of the school year. There's no prep involved. Simply pop the Google slide up on your board and you have everything you need to build a strong sense of community with a daily morning meeting. Click here to take a closer look.
About The Author
Hi, I'm Molly, the creative mind behind Firstieland. With over 35 years of experience in early childhood education, I'm your primary support for resources that will save you time and make learning feel like play. Learn more about my mission for Firstieland here.
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