Morning arrival can be a hectic time in the classroom. Some schools serve breakfast, others have students trickling in over a period of time, and on many occasions, there are forms, book orders, or money to collect. In my 18 years of teaching, I’ve tried many different morning activities for students and have read about many others. This is my round-up of some great ways to start your school day!
What is the best morning routine for students?
The best morning activities you can prepare for your students are the ones that will best engage them in learning and also serve your needs.
A good morning routine will get your students settled somewhere in the classroom with something academic to work on. A GREAT morning routine will engage them with morning activities in a way that allows you to Get. All. The. Things. Done.
1. SMART Board Attendance
When I had a SMART Board in my classroom, I always welcomed my students as they entered with a fun attendance routine. I changed it with the seasons and holidays and recognized special days like birthdays and the 100th day of school.
SMART Boards are a thing of the past in our area, so I no longer maintain those resources, but you can grab a FREE GoNoodle attendance for your SMART Board by clicking HERE or on the image below!
2. Class Theme Song
I adopted a class theme song in my fifth-grade class several years ago. I wasn’t sure it would work with students of this age, but I desperately wanted it to. This song became such a huge part of our classroom routine and was so beloved by the children that they would even sing it to me in eighth grade as they passed me in the hall!
3. Morning Message
Writing your students a message they can read and interact with as they arrive is also a great way to start your day! Here are a few examples:
4. Morning Activity Bins
My new favorite way to start the day is with morning activity bins. I begin each school day with mathematics and have tried various things this year to transition into our learning activities smoothly. I have some students who get unpacked very quickly, and I also have students who usually arrive late, so finding just the right thing for them to work on has been challenging.
I was tired of running off worksheets and recycling a handful each day because some of the students never get to them, so I created fun Math Morning Work task cards that my students can use with the math manipulatives we already have in the classroom! They have been a HUGE hit!
Not only have these been perfect for the beginning of our school day, but they have also been a great go-to activity for my early finishers!
You can grab this EDITABLE resource by clicking HERE or on the image above.
Try a sample by joining the newsletter!
5. Calendar Math
A great way to begin the day in a primary classroom is with a calendar math routine. It is a fun and meaningful way to introduce your students to concepts of time and the perfect way to spiral critical math skills like patterning, place value, and number sense.
Check out my Interactive SMART Board Calendar Math packages, NEW Google and PowerPoint version, and find the French version of the new resource here!
6. GoNoodle Activities
You may not realize it, but GoNoodle isn’t all dancing and camp songs! There are some amazing mindfulness activities to get your students focused and thinking positively as they head into the school day. Some of my favorite GoNoodle activities to begin the day include:
7. Warm-Up Activities
Not all classes can manage the more open-ended, hands-on movement activities unless they are more structured. Sometimes, a quieter approach is in order. I love to use warm-up exercises such as printing practice as my students get settled in during cases like this. It is an excellent way to settle the energy as the day begins.
You can grab a FREE sample of these printing pages by clicking HERE or on the image above and checking out the resource preview.
8. Quote of the Day
Quotes are a great way to inspire, energize, and kick off your day! When chosen carefully, quotes can be a great way to lead your character education or learning activities for the day! Try opening with some thoughtful discussion and see where it takes you.
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Why reinvent the wheel?! I’ve done all the work for you for some of these awesome morning activities I’ve shared. My Math Morning Work, Calendar Math, and Printing Practice activities are ready to go right here:
Be sure to pin this post for easy access down the road!
