Imagine this: It is Monday morning, and you are eager to greet your students and start another prod
uctive week of learning. It is Friday afternoon, and you leave the classroom at the end of your contract hours (not a minute later) and are full of energy, ready to enjoy the weekend.
There was a time early in my teaching career where this was not my regular experience. Monday morning would arrive too early and I dreaded the drive to school, not ready to enter the madness that was my classroom. Friday afternoon could not come soon enough, but when it did, I found myself staying at work way too late, trying to find solutions to quell the chaos. The week would leave me too drained to truly enjoy my weekend. Rinse and repeat every week.
Thank goodness that didn't last! Through research, reading, reflection, and observation of veteran teachers, I was able to transform my classroom into an environment that I looked forward to entering every Monday. And every Friday, I was able to leave on time, full of energy, and ready to thoroughly enjoy a weekend of relaxation and fun.
One of the easiest changes with the greatest impact was taking the first moments of my day more seriously. I started my classroom transformation by first tackling my classroom morning routine. This one, seemingly insignificant part of my day made all the difference in the cultivation of a classroom that is peaceful, productive, and positive.
The Power of Classroom Morning Routines
Morning routines have a remarkable ability to shape the trajectory of the day. They establish a sense of order, comfort, and purpose that resonates with students long after that first bell rings. And from a teacher's perspective, a well-organized morning routine sets the stage for focused instruction and effective classroom management. It's an opportunity to build connections, establish expectations, set the tone for the classroom, and create a harmonious atmosphere conducive to learning.
For students, morning routines provide an invaluable sense of stability and routine. The predictability and structure foster a sense of security, helping them transition from home to the classroom environment with ease. As teachers, we have no control over the home environment or the emotional state in which our students arrive to school. The way students are welcomed to school and the way in which they begin their day in our classroom has an enormous effect on the trajectory of the rest of their day.
Designing an Effective Classroom Morning Routine
Crafting an effective classroom morning routine requires intentionality and thoughtful consideration, as well as a look at your day beyond the morning.
Begin With the Physical Environment
Our physical environment impacts our ability to focus and our mood. Disorganization and clutter have a cumulative effect on our brains, whether or not we view ourselves as organized people (and let me tell you, I am NOT a naturally organized person!). This part here was one of the hardest for me at the beginning because I was trying to "do it all" myself. At the end of each day, I spent hours resetting the room so it would appear organized and calm in the morning, giving the students a fresh start. Then I implemented afternoon jobs.
It is important for our rooms to look first-day-of-school ready, every day. But this is challenging to maintain if you are going at it alone. I always had classroom jobs for my students, but they didn't seem to be very effective. When I took a good hard look at my routines and management though, I knew if teaching was to be a sustainable career for me, I needed more help.
In order to keep my classroom first-day-ready, I revamped my classroom job system. Each child receive a laminated card with their job and a step-by-step description of how to complete the job. At the bottom was a description of what a well-completed job looked like. When I rolled these new jobs out, I introduced one or two jobs at a time to just one or two students. I explicitly taught them the job, modeled it, watched them complete the tasks, and then provided feedback. I worked with them for several days before moving on to the next few students. Yes, this was a slower implementation and it meant that at first I was picking up some slack. But in the end, it was worth the up front effort because for the rest of the year, I did not have to clean up the classroom even once. This was the main thing that allowed me to leave at a decent time every afternoon.
Tackling the Morning
Now that the physical classroom environment exudes calm and orderliness, it's time to dive into the actual classroom morning routine.
Building Connection and Emotional Check-Ins
First and foremost, because everything is set and ready from the afternoon before, teachers should be standing at their door to greet every child as they enter the room. This invaluable time provides a small moment for teacher-student relationship building, a time for teachers to gauge the physical and emotional state that students are in as they begin their learning day, and a time for teachers to clearly state expectations and support students in setting themselves up for a successful day. A simple high five, hug, or handshake with a warm greeting goes a long way.
Inside the Classroom
Displayed prominently in the classroom should be the morning routine procedure, a poster or digital slide in student-friendly language that clearly and succinctly outlines the steps that students should complete as they enter the classroom. Think about the tasks students need to complete before embarking on their learning journey and how you want that to look, sound, and feel like. Ask yourself: Where should student supplies go? Do I want to see bookbags or miscellaneous items throughout the day? What volume do I want the classroom at? What is the most logical flow of movement throughout the classroom when unpacking?
After students unpack and find their seats, there should be some kind of engaging task awaiting them. Getting started on a task right away sets the tone for the day and minimizes distracting behaviors. There are different options for tasks, depending on the your classroom, students, and your personal preferences. These could range from morning work spiral review worksheets, to digital slides on the board and student notebooks, to hands-on bins for students to explore. Whatever direction you decide to go, be sure to explicitly teach and consistently reinforce your expectations during this time of day. How students begin their work sets the tone for how they complete their work throughout the rest of the day.
Feeling Overwhelmed These Days? I Got You!
I so clearly remember the feeling of exhaustion and overwhelm in my early days of teaching. I hit a level of teacher tired that I was certain I would not come back from and that made it all the harder to reset my classroom morning routine.
That's why I've created a resource to support teachers in cultivating the classroom environment that is enjoyable, productive, and sustainable. The Morning Mastery Classroom Morning Routine Toolkit has everything you need to create a peaceful, productive, and positive learning environment!
This 29 page toolkit equips teachers with all the essential tools and strategies needed to establish a seamless morning routine that sets the stage for a successful day of learning. With a step-by-step lesson plan for introducing the new morning routine, research-based behavior management techniques, classroom jobs and description cards, and organization tips, "Morning Mastery" helps teachers create a fresh and focused start for both students and themselves, setting everybody up for success!
Grab your copy here and get ready to transform your days and reignite your passion!
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