Morning Meetings

Morning MeetingGreetingSharing

Group ActivityMorning Message

Morning Meeting Basics

• Determine how much time you have. Morning meeting should take place even if you only have time for the greeting and morning message.

• What are your students strengths and challenges

• It’s important that we look like a grade level team. If possible plan as a team, but as the year goes on your class may have different needs than another.

RulesPost them in your room

Phase in Morning Meetings

• Greeting (2-6 minutes)• Students will sit next to different people each day

so they will have an opportunity to greet a variety of friends.

• Students should sit so they can see everyone• Model appropriate behavior for the greeting• Start simple

• RulesSmile at one anotherGive a firm handshakeStudents will make eye contact

Sample Greeting

1. Have students think of a fact about themselves that many of their classmates may not know.

2. The first student says, “Good morning. My name is ________. A little know fact about me is _________.”

3. The groups responds with a friendly “Good morning _________.”

4. Continue around the circle until everyone is greeted.

Sharing

Goals:• Develop and practice the skills of

caring communication• Helps develop the ability to empathize

and give students a sense of belonging• Provides more opportunity for children

to practice speaking to a group

• Around the circle: Each person says one thing about a specific topic.

• Dialogue: One person briefly shares with the whole group when invites 3 questions and/or comments. (You may have 3-4 students share each day)

• Partner: Two people share with each other.

Sample ShareWhat We Have in Common

1. Pair students with someone they don’t usually work or play with.

2. Invite partners to find two things they have in common.

3. On you signal, students plan and practice how they each will share their commonalities to the class.

4. Go around the circle and share.

Sharing Rules:

• Students who are listening are making eye contact

• Give a thumbs-up “I’m ready to share” signal

• Call on a variety of people for questions and comments

• Share things that are appropriate school conversations

Activity (2-6 minutes)

• Help! I’m out of my comfort zone! I have always wanted to be a back up dancer for “Chicago” but I don’t want to perform for 5th grade.

• Rules– Students play fairly and not cheat.

There are so many activities online and in the books that we shouldn’t don’t have to re-invent the program.

Sample ActivityGroup Counting

• Tell students that the goal is to count up to 16 (the number of students in the group)

• Any student my call out a number at any time. However, numbers must be said in order, and each student can say only one number.

• If two players say a number at the same time, or if a student says a number out of order, the counting restarts for the number one.

Why?• The students know you are ready for the day• Invites student gather around and interact

• Greeting• Date• Body of the message

      -The message should tell the students about the day ahead.-The message could be about an academic subject, or a

community issue like welcoming a student.   - The body may conclude with a question to think about or a

simple activity for students to complete on the chart     -The message is a not the place to teach a brand new ski• Closing and Signature

Morning Message

Morning Message

Tips for the Message:    • The message should be everyday.   • Work with a colleague to get support so

you don't have to come up with a new one everyday.

• Read the message together with your students    

• Schedule should be separate from the meeting/use bubbles for special events

Reinforcing Teacher Language

• *Is simple, direct, and clear

• *Gives specific feedback rather than general praise or approval

• *Asks questions to extend student thinking • *Applies to all students- not manipulative 

Empowering Language

• I’m noticing… • What might you do…..? • What do you need to think about? • What do you think would work? • You need to… • I need you to… • I see you’ve chosen to… • Show me that you are ready… • In our room everyone… • Remind me… • Show me (us)… • I see…• What if…?• Who remembers…? • See what happens when…? •

ModelingUnderstanding the Seven Steps

1. Say what you will model and why.2. Model the behavior.3. Ask students what they noticed.4. Invite one or more students to model.5. Again, ask students what they noticed.6. Have all students practice.7. Provide feedback.