Morning Meeting

We believe that children learn best when they feel welcomed and have a sense of belonging. To that end, every homeroom at Ardena begins each day by engaging in a Morning Meeting from Responsive Classroom. This practice allows everyone in the classroom community to establish and deepen relationships, including peer relationships and teacher-student relationships. Engaging in a Morning Meeting at the beginning of each day gives students a fresh start to the school day, the opportunity to be seen and heard, and the chance to interact with others. Dedicating this time each and every day keeps our students’ social and emotional wellbeing at the forefront of our work here at Ardena School.

Morning Meeting is made up of four components: Greeting, Sharing, Activity, and Morning Message. Greetings are done in a variety of creative ways as a warmup for students to begin interacting. Sharing helps students listen carefully, think about what they hear, formulate questions, and learn about each other. During the share, children have a chance to feel that their ideas are valued and that the other children care. The activity time helps the class feel united as a group, reinforces academic skills, and helps the children learn how to cooperate and solve problems. Reading the morning message helps students think about the day ahead.

Every day, Morning Meeting lets children know that school is a safe place where everyone’s feelings and ideas are important. It is a great way to build community, set a positive tone, increase excitement about learning, and improve academic and social skills. Be sure to ask your child about their experiences in their classroom’s Morning Meeting!