Kindergarten Morning Meeting
One of my favorite aspects of teaching is morning meetings. This special time feels a little bit like a gift - it holds all sorts of possibilities. As we chat and come together as a class, we slowly unwrap the day’s possibilities. I love starting out the day with morning meetings because it ensures that we begin our time together on the right foot and in a positive way. And my favorite thing to do during morning meetings? Read a book! No surprise there. ;)
I’ve got FOUR awesome morning meeting reading tips for you on the blog today. Before we begin though, let’s talk about the importance of beginning your day with any type of morning meeting and why they’re so magical. Let’s dive in!
Morning meetings build social-emotional intelligence and encourage communication within a classroom. When students come together to read and discuss a story (or do an activity), they’re sharing part of the human experience. Morning meetings encourage students to share their thoughts and ideas behind the stories that we unpack together, as well as encourage them to listen to others and take turns. During this time, they learn about the world around them through the book’s story and the story of their peers.
Morning meetings help the day start off on the right foot. Since there’s a wide variety of kids in the classroom, chances are that a few of them might have had a rough start to their morning. And let’s be honest - sometimes this happens to us as teachers, too. This sacred time helps everyone “reset” their morning and come together in a loving, caring environment. Beginning the day with this sunny spot helps the rest of the day run smoothly.
Morning meetings create a routine. They are scheduled and predictable, which helps kids thrive. When students know the routine, they find comfort, confidence, and control. And, in turn, this lends itself to students being focused and ready to start the day.
Morning meetings provide a smooth transition to the day’s events. When you start the day with a meeting that you complete together as a class, it gives students a seamless transition from putting their backpacks away, to taking care of their lunches, etc. Beginning the day specifically with a book helps build calm after the chaos of a rushed morning. Reading is a great way to transition from the hustle and bustle of the morning to beginning the day’s learning journey.
Tips for a smooth transition
Have assigned spots on the carpet Have you ever started your morning meeting with, “Find a spot on the carpet, class!” only to find kids pushing and shoving over who gets to sit next to who? Not exactly the calmest way to start out what’s supposed to be the calmest part of your day!
Morning meetings are set up to be routine-based, predictable, and a safe space. One of the sure-fire ways to make this go sideways is to not have assigned carpet spots for kids. As you set up your morning meetings, ensure that each child has an assigned square, number, or shape to sit on. Of course, these spots may change as the year goes on and it becomes clear to you which students need a bit of a break from each other. When carpet spots are assigned, this ensures that each child has their own safe space to go and saves you lots of headaches and interruptions while reading. It also ensures that the morning meetings start off smoothly and without quarrels.
Create a set of class-created rules.
Having rules and expectations for a morning meeting is essential in order for optimal learning. Remember that rules are actually freeing. They are simply boundaries - they are no restrictions. Rules are in place so that everyone can learn and be respected. Be sure the carpet rules are clear and concise - too many can set unrealistic expectations. Sitting on spots, not interrupting, listening to others, and raising hands are good starters.
And speaking of reading, books are the perfect tool for a morning meeting. You can decide if reading a book will be your entire morning meeting or only a small part of it. Either way, I have six reading tips you can use to ensure that your class morning time runs smoothly and is enjoyed by all! I’ve put them in order as well, so if making lists is your thing, print out these four strategies and hang them up on your board. :)
Choose an appropriate book
Books are a fantastic way to introduce an idea, concept, or life experience. Be sure to choose a book that students can relate to and one that is applicable in their lives. Perhaps your school does a monthly character trait. Reading a book about respect or honesty helps enforce that idea. Or perhaps you’re on your way to the pumpkin patch for a field trip and you choose a fall-themed book to chat about. If there’s a concept that’s been a continued difficulty in your class, like sharing, choose a book that encourages empathy.
Go on a quick “book walk.”
Instead of just diving into the book (who could blame you!?), go on a short book walk before beginning. Read the title, author, and illustrator and discuss their role in the story. Show the cover and ask, “What do you think this book could be about?” Or, “What predictions do you have, based on the cover?”
You may even choose to show some of the pictures of the pages (no spoilers!) before beginning. Oftentimes, there’s a paragraph or sentence at the back of the book that might give a hint about the theme or plot of the story. Taking your class on a “book walk” helps them build background information before reading and aids in predicting and inferencing. “Book walks” also help build interest in the story - and when there’s interest, students are more focused as they read.
Stop and chat.
While you’re reading, have built-in time where students can stop and discuss their thoughts about the characters, plot, or theme of the story. Of course, this doesn’t need to be on every page (and probably shouldn’t to avoid so much stop-and-go). Beforehand, preview the book and decide where it might be a good time for the class to pause and reflect. These predetermined checkpoints not only ensure that the story doesn’t get derailed but also provide optimal, teacher-led discussion.
During these checkpoints, encourage students to talk about what connections they can make in their own lives to the story. Do they have anything in common with the main character? Do the characters in the story remind them of an experience they had? Can they think of anything going on in the world right now that is reflected in this story? At first, students may need to be asked these questions. As teachers, it’s our job to guide them and to teach them how to ask certain questions. After a while, these “stop and chats” will function on their own as students get more comfortable with asking questions, sharing their stories, and listening to others. With practice and encouragement, these checkpoints become well-oiled machines by wintertime!
Reflect. Never underestimate the power of a good story.
Good stories beg to be shared, unpacked, and reflected upon. Reflecting after you read not only creates a smooth transition to the next event of the day but also allows students who didn’t participate in the checkpoints to have an opportunity to do so. During reflection, students can summarize, talk about character change, and discuss their favorite parts of the book (This last one is an easy one for students who may be early in their understanding with predicting, inference, etc., or even ones who are shy to share at first.) Reflecting allows space for students to share their ideas and gives them a chance to discuss something that wasn’t covered in the checkpoints.
Teacher friends, the opportunity to read to young minds is a gift we are given each day as educators. We are so lucky for the chance to shape young minds through reading stories together. I hope these morning meeting and reading tips can help your mornings go smoothly, and peacefully, and encourage you to savor opening the gift that is reading.
