Such simple words but yet so powerful! At PNA, we start each morning with a morning meeting as part of the Responsive Classroom approach that we utilize in our classrooms. Morning Meetings are an integral part of our day as they build a strong sense of community and set the tone for a positive and inclusive day.
There are four parts to a morning meeting: a greeting, sharing, a group activity/game and news & announcements that are usually presented in a daily morning message. As students enter the classroom, one of the first things they do is read the morning message. This message is written in a friendly letter format and either reviews something that we have previously talked about or sets the groundwork for that day’s events. Here are some examples of recent morning messages in first and second grade.
The next component of morning meeting is a greet. Students greet each other by name in a variety of ways as they say good morning. Currently one of the favorite greetings in 2nd grade is saying hello in different languages. In the Kindergarten class, the morning meeting starts with a song played on the ukulele where every student gets a chance to greet their classmates. When the student hears their name, they either wave, clap or dance. At the end of the song, all of the students get the opportunity to stand up and dance together.
Another piece of morning meeting is a share. This can take on many forms as well but the main goal is that everyone is able to have their voice be heard as they talk about their thoughts, ideas and experiences. After the greeting song in Kindergarten, the students perform a body check in. Students are asked how they feel and show their responses by giving a thumbs up, thumbs to the side or thumbs down. Each student gets a chance to talk about how they feel and share about what’s important to them. Sometimes the topic for the share comes in the form of the question posed in the morning message as shown above.
Finally the group game or activity, which might arguably be the favorite of most students during morning meeting occurs. By playing and working together, students are developing important communication and sportsmanship skills. They are engaging with one another in activities that encourage critical thinking, creativity and just pure simple joy.
One of the favorite games in First Grade is called “Kitty Wants a Corner.” All but one student circles up with their chair. The student without a chair (the kitty) walks up to each student from the middle of the circle and says, “kitty wants a corner.” The seated student then replies, “sorry, try my neighbor.” Meanwhile, the other students around the circle attempt to switch seats silently. If the kitty gets to a seat before someone else, the remaining student is the new kitty until they can get to a chair. This game allows students to practice making eye contact and communicating with others while also getting them moving and laughing in the first fifteen minutes of their day.
Morning Meetings are full of giggles and smiles each morning and is a wonderful way for students to wake up, interact with their peers, and start the day on a positive note. By greeting each and every student, to allowing them to share their voices, to coming together as a group to enjoy a bit of playful interaction each morning, we are setting the students up for a successful day where they are included and recognized as valuable members of our learning community.