Morning Meeting and the Responsive Classroom
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The Responsive Classroom: A New Approach to Classroom Management
Teaching good behavior involves breaking down into small steps the behaviors expected of children and actively teaching the skills involved.
Start with an empty slate and build upon it step by step.
You will find dozens of activities, suggestions, ideas and strategies for managing your classroom and teaching the skills for well organized social situations.
The Responsive Classroom
Photo Credit: Circle time
on Flickr, Creative Commons.
I first discovered the Responsive Classroom approach when my daughter started Kindergarten. Amazed by the way children in the classroom were actively learning all around the room, I asked the teacher how she did it.
- Responsive Classroom: A practical approach to creating safe, joyful, and challenging elementary classrooms
- The Responsive Classroom is an approach to elementary teaching that emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth in a strong and safe school community. The goal is to enable optimal student learning. Created by classroom teachers and backed by evidence from independent research, the Responsive Classroom approach is based on the premise that children learn best when they have both academic and social-emotional skills. The approach therefore consists of classroom and school wide practices for deliberately helping children build academic and social-emotional competencies.
Morning Meeting teaches Community Building
Build a Classroom Community starting with Morning Meeting
At the beginning of the year you can teach your children how to create a classroom community starting with Morning Meeting. Gather your children in a circle. There are four components to Morning Meeting. The first is greeting. Each child must be looked in the eye and greeted face to face with a welcoming smile. The second is sharing, an advanced form of Show and Tell, where children learn how to give a short new message, ask for details, and practice active listening. The third is a fun, active group activity which may help to teach an academic subject. The final component of the Morning Meeting is the Morning Message, a letter written by the teacher to the students where the children learn of up coming events, conventions of letter writing and word attack skills.
Important!
Learn each other's names
and get to know each other's interests and feelings
The Name Jar
Getting to know each other's names is very important to unifying the class as a whole. Names usually reflect ones' ethnic background. Discussing this issue with the class helps to create better acceptance of people of other cultures.Objective: To help children begin to learn to read each other's names
1. Write the name of each of the children in the class on a business card sized card.
2. Pass the jar around the circle. Pull out a name and have everyone smile at that person and say "Good Morning, ____"
Photo Credit: Learning Names
on Flickr, Creative Commons
Who stole the cookie in the cookie jar?
Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?
Who ate the cookie in the cookie jar?
(Child's name) ate the cookie in the cookie jar.
Who me? (First child responds.)
Yes you! (Class chants.)
Couldn't be. (First child answers.)
Then who? (Class chants.)
Second child's name ate the cookie in the cookie jar...
The chant continues as you use each child's name.
Reading various versions of the chant can help children to remember the words to the rhyme and often they can begin to read the words during Silent Reading.
Who ate the cookie from the cookie jar?
Learning names
Outlaw Raids Cookie Jar, 1952
Buy This Allposters.com
Dr. Jean adds cards with the names and pictures of the children to make Who ate the cookie in the cookie jar? a reading activity as well.
Note: Once the children can read each other's names this can become a Literacy Center game as well.
- Dr. Jean's Cookie Jar Rhyming Game
- Get an empty Animal Crackers box. Write each child's name and picture on an index card and put the cards in the box. Pull one name at a time out of the box and use it in the chant.
Cookies for the Cookie Jar
Creating Community in the Responsive Classroom
My grandmother was a teacher as well as an expert cookie baker. Cookies never lasted long enough to put in her cookie jar. Make this recipe for lumberjack cookies with your children. When they are cooled, invite the children to write their names on the cookies with frosting and allow the frosting to dry.
Later in the day, pass out the cookies at random and have the children find the child whose name is on the cookie and give it to them. This is another way to help create a sense of community in the Responsive Classroom.
Later in the day, pass out the cookies at random and have the children find the child whose name is on the cookie and give it to them. This is another way to help create a sense of community in the Responsive Classroom.
Names in ABC Order
After reading "A My Name is Alice" have the children write their names on index cards and then match the first letter of their names to the letter on the alphabet chart.
Next go through the alphabet and see if everyone can remember who's name begins with each letter you come to.
Take down the name cards. Mix them up and use them like flashcards. Ask children what they noticed in order for them to remember the name.
Later this can become a Literacy Center activity.
Next go through the alphabet and see if everyone can remember who's name begins with each letter you come to.
Take down the name cards. Mix them up and use them like flashcards. Ask children what they noticed in order for them to remember the name.
Later this can become a Literacy Center activity.
Games for Teaching Names
Icebreakers
One day we were learning about the moon and stars. There were a couple of new kids in the group so I started an Earth and Moon games. We got into a huddle and called ourselves the earth. Then I chose one of the children to walk around the earth being the moon. After one turn around, this moon chooses someone else to be the moon. Each time a child's name is mentioned, the rest of the children learn each other's name.
Name Games
Getting to know Each Other
When children first come to class they need to get to know each other. These ice breakers will help the children learn each other's names which is the first step in forming a community. Play name games often in the first couple of weeks of school until everyone knows each other.
Icebreakers
The following activities can be used in a variety of ways. They can be used for beginning of the year activities, energizers for breaks during standardized tests, team building activities, etc. They work for almost any age group--try some at the next faculty meeting. Some of them will guarantee a good laugh!1 point
Circle Time - Getting to Know Your Class
Trading Places and Name Bounce are two fun games that can be played during Morning Meeting to help children learn each other's names. From Didax Educational Resources1 point
Important!
Take turns
without arguing, pouting or quitting
Four Square
The Responsive Classroom teaches Taking Turns
Four Square is a game I remember playing at Recess as a child. You draw a large box and divide it in half both ways to make 4 squares. Mark the squares with the numbers 1-4. One child stands at each corner. Additional children stand behind the child at the number 1 box.The child at box 4 starts by serving the ball which must bounce once only once in a box before being touched by the player of the next box. When someone misses that person goes out and everyone moves up. The person who goes out goes to the back of the line and waits his or her turn.
Teaching and modeling how to solve problems is very important to the Responsive Classroom approach. When disagreements occur the whole class can help to discuss alternatives to fights, model the suggestion and learn mediation skills.
Photo Credit: Four Square
on Flickr, Creative Commons
Playing Games: Taking Turns
The Responsive Classroom and Taking Turns
Max is hungry. Take turns helping the chipmunk, mouse and bird get to the tree.
Max is a game that encourages the philosophy of The Responsive Classroom in teaching how to take turns.
Max is a game that I like to teach the children how to play at the beginning of the year. The rules are simple and encourage cooperation and thinking skills as well as verbal communication. Once most of the class knows how to play this game it becomes one of the centers.
Max is a game that encourages the philosophy of The Responsive Classroom in teaching how to take turns.
Max is a game that I like to teach the children how to play at the beginning of the year. The rules are simple and encourage cooperation and thinking skills as well as verbal communication. Once most of the class knows how to play this game it becomes one of the centers.
Important!
Share
The Doorbell Rang
The Responsive Classroom Teaches About Sharing
Throughout the day there are endless opportunities to model and demonstrate the need to share. Children share supplies, snacks, attention from classmates, as well as private time with the teacher.
Teachers in the Responsive Classroom not only encourage sharing, they model and actively teach this behavior.
The Doorbell Rang is a story of dividing and sharing cookies.
Act out the division of the cookies with pattern blocks or cookie shaped laminated cards.
After reading the story we play a game of sets where the teacher calls out a number and the children need to get into groups. Those that are left out can join the teacher to make the correct number or sometimes stuffed animals are included.
Teachers in the Responsive Classroom not only encourage sharing, they model and actively teach this behavior.
Happy Young Girl with Milk and Cookies
Hallinan, Dennis
Buy This Allposters.com
The Doorbell Rang is a story of dividing and sharing cookies.
Act out the division of the cookies with pattern blocks or cookie shaped laminated cards.
After reading the story we play a game of sets where the teacher calls out a number and the children need to get into groups. Those that are left out can join the teacher to make the correct number or sometimes stuffed animals are included.
Important!
Work Together
Join small groups in a constructive way and invite others to join
Working Together to Accomplish a goal
The Responsive Classroom Teaches Children to Work Together
Photo Credit: Swimmy Bulletin Board
on Flickr, Creative Commons
Work together to make a class mural of Swimmy:
1. Paint a blue background.
2. Teacher might need to draw the outline of the big fish shape.
3. After it dries, use stamps or potato prints and paint to stamp all the little fish that form the shape of the fish.
Harvest Time by Family Pastimes is one of our favorite games. By working together farmers try to raise and harvest as many crops as possible before winter. Teaching the class how to play a game like this reinforces cooperation, taking turns and working together.
Important!
Greet and include others
(not only friends) in conversation and activities
To Everyone in all the World
The Responsive Classroom believes Greeting Eachother is Important
Christmas Greetings - Couple Dancing in Moonlight
Available at AllPosters.com
This song by Pete Seeger can be used in a circle dance.
First teach the song using a chart and pointer.
When the children know the song well enough have them form a circle with every other child facing the opposite way.
Now teach them how to walk around weaving back and forth offering hands as they go.
To everyone in all the world
I reach my hand, I shake their hand.
To everyone in all the world
I shake my hand like this.
All, all together,
The whole wide world around.
I may not know your lingo,
But I can say, by jingo,
No matter where you live
We can shake hands.
This song is also nice to have in the Listening Center.
First Six Weeks of School
Creating Community in the Classroom
The first six weeks of school are the most critical for creating a community of learners. Learn each others names, teach the children how you would like them to behave, teach your students where to put materials and how to manage their time. Get your class off on the right start during the first six weeks of school.
First Six Weeks of School,The (Strategies for Teachers)
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 02/17/2012)
Important!
Make room in the circle
even for children who aren't "best friends"
Making Friends
The Responsive Classroom Helps Children Make Friends
New Playmates
Giclee PrintWalbourn, Ernest
Buy at AllPosters.com
Learning how to make friends, including everyone and being a good hostess are all important life skills that also help in getting a class off to the right start. These are skills that are actively taught and modeled with the students.
Frog and Toad and George and Martha are stories of great friendships. They are great for starting discussions about friendship.
Sancocho is a soup that is made in Mexico on Sundays when people stop by for dinner. When someone else comes over they just add more water to the soup.
Sancocho is an example of how people include others in their activities and how this promotes friendship.
Morning Message for the Frog Theme
Frog Pond themed Morning Message
Each morning the children are greeted with a message written by the teacher to the children. This is a message I wrote for my students when we were planning a trip down to the frog pond. Notice that the message is written in an exciting style that draws the children into the activities for the day. Reading this Morning Message will help them focus on our frog theme and gives them a reason to anticipate the trip. There is an interactive activity at the bottom which will follow up on a lesson in syllables that I taught the day before.
Morning Meeting Greeting Video
Morning Meeting in The Responsive Classroom
curated content from YouTube
Morning Meeting
Morning Meeting in The Responsive Classroom
Morning Meeting is the time when all the children are greeted and welcomed into the circle. The Responsive Classroom model promotes the idea that everyone feels included when they are greeted by name. By sharing feelings, likes and dislikes we get to know eachother better and form a more cohesive group.
Morning Meeting in the Responsive Classroom
Photo Credit: Circle Time
on Flickr, Creative Commons.
Learn about how Morning Meeting is used in a Responsive Classroom.
- Morning Meeting: An Overview
- It's time, it's time, it's time for Morning Meeting now...The melody, begun by the teacher...
- Morning Meeting and Calendar Activities
- Morning meeting is a wonderful way to build classroom community and teach a variety of academic and social and emotional skills. It helps set the tone for the day and creates a daily routine that provides security and comfort for the students. Morning meeting is the place where children and the teacher can share news about what's going on at home and at school. It's a place to feel safe, loved, and important.
- Morning Meeting Greetings
- Morning Meeting Greetings form A to Z Teacher Stuff Forums
- Morning Meeting Greetings
- Stuffed Animal Greeting: Pass a stuffed animal around and greet someone in the circle.
Ball Toss Greeting: Use tennis balls to greet - Oh What a Beautiful Morning
- Morning Meeting in Mrs. McDowell's Class
- Morning Meeting with a Frog Greeting
- Hopper the Frog hops from child to child answering a question from the teacher's prompt such as "What is your favorite color?"
Important!
Work on projects together
solve problems, and play games with input from everyone
Working Together
Cooperation is Taught in the Responsive Classroom
Photo Credit: Children Playing a Game
on Karen's Whimsey
Teaching cooperative games helps to reinforce the necessity of working together in groups to accomplish a goal.
We own several games by Family Pastimes. All of their games are cooperative and yet competitive. Usually you play as a group against a character in the game.
Max has been a favorite with both my children and my students. Max, the cat, is hungry and trying to catch the little creatures in the yard. It is your job to try to help the mouse, bird and chipmunk get back to the tree before Max eats them. Though each one takes, talking out the strategies before making a move is vital to the mission.
Important!
Solve conflicts
by talking and reaching mutually acceptable decisions without name-calling or hurtful behavior.
Hands are for Helping
Conflict Resolution
Photo Credit: Helping Hands
on Flickr, Creative Commons.
It is difficult to work with students who do not know how to solve their conflicts in a peaceful manner. Talk It Out outlines the steps to take to teach children these vital skills. As students learn to deal with conflict on their own, you'll have more time for the lessons you've planned, fewer complaints from parents, and less stress in your life.
The Responsive Classroom's book, Rules for Schools, helps to teach children the reason for rules as well as how to make or change the rules as necessary throughout the year.
Revisiting Hopes, Goals, and Classroom Rules
Rules for Morning Meeting
Photo Credit: Classroom Rules
on Flickr, Creative Commons
At the beginning of the year children write down their hopes and goals and then work together to develop classroom rules to support those hopes and goals. Because the children have a vested interest they are more likely to follow the class rules.
- Revisiting Hopes, Goals, and Classroom Rules
- Revisiting September's hopes and goals is an important midyear activity that will help students see the progress they've made so far, while setting the tone for productive learning during the remainder of the year.
Responsive Classroom in the News!
- "Circles" serve as mini-think tanks for just about any problem.
- Rhode Island education news
The school's classes all begin with a "morning circle," which is a central feature of a program called "Responsive Classroom." Morning circle is not specifically about solving problems. It is a daily ritual during which the class practices effective ways of being with one another - taking turns, being polite, listening carefully, considering all points of view. - Bozrah: Staff works to make start smooth - Norwich, CT - Norwich Bulletin
- Sixth-grade teacher John Mrakovcich began his day by asking students to participate in an exercise engaging them socially. They paired up and asked each other what they would like others to know about them after writing in a journal. Then, their partner introduced them to the class. The technique is part of what is called a responsive classroom, designed to administer to the social as well as academic needs of students.
- Classroom Rules
- Our hopes and dreams!
Based on these hopes and dreams, we made rules that will help us accomplish these goals. - W-H initiates programs as new year starts - Hanson, MA - Hanson Town Crier
- The Responsive Classroom, taught in the elementary schools, emphasizes social, emotional and academic growth in a strong and safe school community. This approach is based on the premise that children learn best when they have both academic and social-emotional skills.
- 'Responsive Classroom' at Branchville stresses social growth
- "...The Responsive Classroom approach is based on the premise that children learn best when they have both academic and social-emotional skills. The approach therefore consists of classroom and school wide practices for deliberately helping children build academic and social-emotional competencies."
The Responsive Classroom
The Responsive Classroom site offers lots more information, workshops and inspiration.
- Responsive Classroom: A practical approach to creating safe, joyful, and challenging elementary classrooms
- The Responsive Classroom is an approach to elementary teaching that emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth in a strong and safe school community. The goal is to enable optimal student learning.
Look Who's Twittering about the Responsive Classroom:
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- cindigwpds
- Responsive Classroom workshop with Asst Tchrs and Special Areas today. Bldg Community is fun! http://t.co/10jT20gn
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- Evergreen_Elem
- Responsive Classroom Scholarship Opportunity: http://t.co/GGT7y7Av
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- erinmahollitz
- Weekly Plan for Morning Messages | Responsive Classroom http://t.co/GZQi3Nuy
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- cltcustserv
- CLT CS: Bullyproofing the Elementary Classroom: Responsive Classroom Offers Teachers New Work... http://t.co/ZwNNMFc6 #cltbiz #charlotte
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- VillageLearning
- Bullyproofing the Elementary Classroom: Responsive Classroom Offers Teachers ... http://t.co/0e2Nu3s1
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It's Time to Teach with The Responsive Classroom!
Teaching Time is a place to share your thoughts on Teaching. This summer I was privileged to take a class in Vermont about the The Responsive Classroom. approach to classroom management. What a pleasure it is when you find a method that just seems to fit. Since then I have had the opportunity to work in several different schools and classrooms to see how it is being implemented. What I find are calm teachers and students following rules, learning and respecting each other.
What are your experiences with The Responsive Classroom? Come share them on Teaching Time...
What are your experiences with The Responsive Classroom? Come share them on Teaching Time...
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Tell us about your experiences with using the Responsive Classroom Approach.
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Buchamar
Dec 13, 2011 @ 7:44 pm | delete
- Great lens! My lens are on education with apps.
Best of luck!
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jenniferteacher
Oct 24, 2011 @ 8:38 am | delete
- These are some great ideas! I'm going to start using some of these in my classroom!
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alltoglory
Sep 18, 2011 @ 9:52 am | delete
- I love this lens! It has great resources and ideas that I will start incorporating in my classroom.
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RhondaSueDavis
Sep 4, 2011 @ 12:19 am | delete
- I would love to share this on my pre k lenses. I think experiencing teachers who used this approach with my kids and family in community really impacts how I teach today. we were always greeted warmly by name and welcomed as partners in the learning process. a safe community brings so much learning to the table.
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Ruthi
Jun 26, 2011 @ 4:30 pm | delete
- Excellent teaching lens. Such fun learning, as it should be.
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Ayers4christ
May 21, 2011 @ 9:38 am | delete
- This is an excellent strategy. Next year, we are embracing the morning meeting school-wide (K-6) as part of our journey into becoming a "No Excuses University" elementary school!
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amoki13
Mar 29, 2011 @ 8:23 pm | delete
- Thanks for the lens! I am always looking for activities and ideas for my morning meeting, and your links are teriffic. It was also great to be riminded to revisit my hopes and goals...we haven't looked at them in a while. We'll revisit them very soon : )
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John
Sep 29, 2010 @ 12:59 pm | delete
- My wife has been a teacher for the past 20 years and would benefit from this lens. She has been looking for an effective discipline for children plan for some time now. I will bookmark this lens for her reference. Thanks for the information.
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teriann
Sep 18, 2010 @ 7:27 pm | delete
- great informative lens. We have been very blessed to have great teachers this far. We are very hands on parents and always work close with our teachers. Being a room mother for many years and teaching pre-school when my children attended I resonte with some of these methods.
Thanks for the info.
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JoyfulPamela
Sep 17, 2010 @ 4:34 pm | delete
- Nice ideas! I've used similar things in my classes sometimes.
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directorprops
Mar 27, 2010 @ 4:06 pm | delete
- I agree with you. But how can I join with your group? I love your lens very much. So I must back to your lens.
Thanks for sharing such like a good post.
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KarenTBTEN
Feb 7, 2010 @ 12:38 am | delete
- Great lens! Building community is an important part of teaching for several reasons: 1) It's an important life skill. 2) By building community, a teacher can decrease the time spent solving conflicts.
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Evelyn_Saenz
Feb 7, 2010 @ 5:18 pm | delete
- Children who learn to solve their own conflicts are better able to focus on learning.
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das_danger
May 2, 2009 @ 6:30 pm | delete
- your lenses continue to inspire me to be an active and fun teacher like you:)
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das_danger
May 2, 2009 @ 6:30 pm | delete
- your lenses continue to inspire me to be an active and fun teacher like you:)
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a_willow
Feb 15, 2009 @ 7:16 am | delete
- Wonderful lens! I see here couple things that can be adjusted to my husband's class! I now only need to find some suitable Croatian songs! ;) Thanks Evelyn!
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Evelyn_Saenz
Jan 29, 2009 @ 4:23 pm | in reply to Tipi | delete
- Thank you, Susie
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Tipi
Jan 29, 2009 @ 4:09 pm | delete
- You have got such wonderful ideas and teaching skill lady! - I learn something new from you all the time...thanks!
Susie
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JosephWilliam
Dec 7, 2008 @ 3:20 pm | delete
- Great ideas and resources that can be successfully applied. Very good insights on the responsive classroom. Thanks, Joseph
http://www.childrenbehaviors.com/
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Evelyn_Saenz
Nov 24, 2008 @ 11:53 am | in reply to Pam | delete
- Thank you Pam for pointing out my omission. I heartily encourage everyone to go to The Responsive Classroom.
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eddygobbo
Oct 5, 2008 @ 6:00 am | delete
- I thoroughly enjoyed your lens. An excellent resource that I have had wonderful success in the classroom with is "1-2-3 Magic". Feel free to check out my lens, "Behaviour Management In The Classroom".
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emilyava
Sep 15, 2008 @ 1:52 am | delete
- Very good lens.
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aj2008
Sep 8, 2008 @ 10:01 am | delete
- Some lovely ideas here Evelyn. I really love the idea of making a mural of Swimmy to teach working in a team.
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Pam
Sep 6, 2008 @ 7:59 am | delete
- When sharing information about the Responsive Classroom it would be most helpful and fair to include the home website www.responsiveclassroom.org. This gives the broadest and most accurate information about the approach and services.
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debnet
Sep 4, 2008 @ 12:50 pm | delete
- Another great Lens Evelyn! Please submit it to The Emotional Wellbeing Group ;)
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by Evelyn_Saenz
Evelyn_Saenz
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