Morning Meetings: What, Why, How
The start of the school day sets the tone for everything that follows. Rather than diving straight into academics, many teachers are choosing to begin the day with something more meaningful: a Morning Meeting. This structured yet joyful gathering supports social-emotional development, builds community, and helps students feel safe, seen, and ready to learn.
In this blog post, we’ll explore what a Morning Meeting is, why it’s important—especially in early childhood classrooms—and how to lead one successfully.
What Is a Morning Meeting?
A Morning Meeting is a predictable, inclusive daily routine that brings the class together to start the day with connection and purpose. Typically lasting 15–20 minutes, this meeting is not a time for math drills or calendar routines. Instead, it focuses on relationship-building and communication.
Most Morning Meetings follow a four-part format:
Greeting – Students greet each other in fun and respectful ways.
Sharing – Students take turns speaking about their thoughts, experiences, or feelings while others listen attentively.
Activity – A short, engaging group game or song that encourages cooperation or movement.
Morning Message – A written note from the teacher that previews the day and invites interaction with literacy concepts.
(Rimm-Kaufman & Chiu, 2007; Responsive Classroom, 2016)
Why Morning Meetings Matter
1. They Build Belonging and Trust
When students start the day being greeted by name and listened to by peers, it reinforces a sense of belonging and emotional safety—two pillars of a healthy learning environment (Kriete & Davis, 2014).
2. They Promote Social-Emotional Learning
Morning Meetings help children develop important skills like turn-taking, listening, managing emotions, and expressing thoughts clearly. These are critical for long-term success in school and beyond (CASEL, 2023).
3. They Set a Calm, Positive Tone for the Day
A well-run Morning Meeting can help students regulate behavior, anticipate routines, and ease into academic tasks with a positive mindset (Otis & Joyner, 2018).
4. They Support Language and Communication Skills
Especially in classrooms with multilingual learners, Morning Meetings provide a low-stress opportunity to practice speaking, listening, and understanding social language (Peregoy & Boyle, 2017).
5. They Build Community and Reduce Behavior Issues
Research shows that classrooms with consistent Morning Meetings see fewer discipline referrals and more cooperative behavior (Rimm-Kaufman & Chiu, 2007).
How to Lead a Morning Meeting
Here’s a simple guide for leading a Morning Meeting with young learners:
1. Greeting (2–3 minutes)
Start with a cheerful and inclusive greeting routine. It could be as simple as:
“Good morning, [name]!”
Elbow bumps or waves
Greeting songs or chants
Model tone of voice and body language. Make sure everyone is greeted and feels acknowledged.
2. Sharing (3–5 minutes)
Invite 2–4 students to share something meaningful. This might be a weekend highlight, a feeling, or a response to a question prompt like “What’s your favorite snack?” or “What makes you laugh?” Teach active listening by having the group respond with a thumbs-up or follow-up question.
3. Group Activity (5 minutes)
Choose a short game, chant, or cooperative movement activity. Some favorites include:
“Freeze Dance”
“Guess What’s Missing?”
Rhyming games or category songs
Movement routines to music
This time builds cohesion and transitions kids into learning readiness.
4. Morning Message (5 minutes)
Post a simple message on the board (typed or handwritten) that students read together. It might include:
A greeting
The date
A sentence previewing the day’s highlight
A sentence with a missing word or phonics skill for students to help complete
This supports early literacy and gives a sneak peek into the day’s schedule.
Tips for Success
Use consistent expectations: teach students how to sit, listen, and take turns.
Allow for differentiation: students can participate in ways that match their comfort level.
Vary the greetings and activities to keep things fresh.
Keep it brief and purposeful—15 to 20 minutes is ideal.
Include visual supports and cues for students who benefit from extra scaffolding.
Final Thoughts
A well-planned Morning Meeting is one of the most powerful tools a teacher can use to build a caring, responsive classroom. It’s not about managing behavior—it’s about nurturing relationships. When students feel connected and cared for, they are more ready to engage, learn, and grow.
Try it out for a week. You might just find that your mornings—and your whole day—feel a little more joyful.
Resources:
Kindergarten Smorgasboard Resources
Responsive Classroom Activiites
References
CASEL. (2023). What is SEL? https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/
Kriete, R., & Davis, C. (2014). The morning meeting book (3rd ed.). Center for Responsive Schools.
Otis, A., & Joyner, C. (2018). Morning meeting made easy: 90 quick activities for grades K–2. Scholastic Inc.
Peregoy, S. F., & Boyle, O. F. (2017). Reading, writing, and learning in ESL: A resource book for teaching K–12 English learners (7th ed.). Pearson.
Responsive Classroom. (2016). What is morning meeting? https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/what-is-morning-meeting/
Rimm-Kaufman, S. E., & Chiu, Y. J. L. (2007). Promoting social and academic competence in the classroom: An intervention study examining the contribution of the Responsive Classroom approach. Psychology in the Schools, 44(4), 397–413. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.20231
