The sound of the bell signals morning meeting, a great way start to each day. A strong sense of community is built, and it sets students up for social and academic success. Every morning, students and teachers gather together in a circle for 10 to 20 minutes and purposefully interact with each other.
To begin the morning meeting, students greet one another by name. This creates a welcoming environment, along with an atmosphere of politeness. Not only are the important social skills of making eye contact and shaking hands reinforced, but students develop a sense of community when they interact with their peers in this way.
Next, the students chant a piece from Rita Pearson’s “Every Kid Needs a Champion” Ted Talk. These powerful words set the tone for the day and remind each student of their importance in our classroom. Early in the school year, we create a class mission statement together. This mission statement is used in place of a list of rules in our classroom. We review it throughout the day as needed, but also read our mission statement out loud during our classroom meeting. There is great value when students play an active role in writing a class mission statement and have ownership over their environment.
The time that a teacher invests in morning meeting will pay dividends throughout the day. Every child plays a vital role in this part of the day, regardless of academic ability. Every child contributes. Every child feels part of the bigger classroom community.
When children feel loved and cared for during the daily routine of a morning meeting, it takes away the obstacles that prevent them from feeling engaged at school. It creates a safe space for classmates to take care of one another and to do their best learning. When we are all connected, learners can thrive and community can continue to become stronger and stronger.
Let’s connect! I would love to hear about the ways you have implemented a morning meeting in your classroom.