Do you want to make your classroom morning routine easy? Are you trying to juggle student questions, taking attendance, helping Sammy log onto the computer while Marley needs help finding her lost pencil? All this while making sure your students are working on something meaningful without having to give the same directions over and over? I’ve got a few things that I’ve implemented over the years that help make our classroom morning routine easy.
Classroom Morning Routine
Your classroom morning routine sets the tone for the rest of your day. A strong classroom routine includes consistency, clear expectations, and and classroom procedures that your students know how to use. This time is an important time for students to be independent
Consistency
It’s so important to be consistent with your morning routine. That way, even your tardy friends will know what to do as soon as they walk through your classroom door. In our 2nd grade class, students always hang up their backpack, take our their black folder, and line up quietly when the bell rings. As soon as I greet them at the door, they know to come in and work on their daily journal. They know that this is our routine every.single.day.
Clear Expectations
During our morning routine, we practice and practice the first few weeks of school. We review my expectations so many times that I want to pull my hair out. But I know that going over this will pay off in a few weeks. Below are a few areas that I know my kiddos always needed help with. You’ll want to make sure you have set your expectations in the following areas:
Supplies
Where do they get supplies?
Notes
Where do parent notes, permission slips, papers to turn in go?
Assignment
What are your students working on? What do they do if the finish early?
Question
What do they do if they have questions?
Procedures
Tired of writing the same thing on the white board every day? I got sick of giving my students the same directions, day-after-day. I use these editable assignment slides so I can quickly type in instructions for my students. We use them every single morning. As the students walk in, I don’t have to say a word. Everything they need to know is on the slide that’s projected on the board. Best part? It can cover all of your expectations! You can try them out for free in my Facebook group in the files section.
If you want to make your classroom morning routine easy, you can grab these Volume 1 morning message assignment slides for the entire year, Volume 2, or the Big Kids version!
Easy Teaching Tools Primary Teachers Facebook Group
Sandra Follansbee says
Good ideas. I have also had success with sustained silent reading for 15 minutes.
Amanda says
I love this! I do a similar one with my 3rd graders and push it to them through Google Classroom! Thanks for sharing!
Melissa says
Is there a way to try the slides out without going through the Facebook Group( I do not have Facebook 😃)?
Kristen says
E mail me!
Julie says
Love these, would like to use during small groups, are the headings editable also?
Kristen says
Yes Julie, they are!