1. The Social and Academic
Benefits of Morning Meeting
Lizzy Conroy
2. One of six elements of the Responsive Classroom
approach to teaching and learning
Responsive Classroom: A teaching approach that is centered on the
idea that students learn most effectively if they have both academic
and social skills
Morning Meeting is based off Circle Time, a routine
most commonly seen in early educational programs
Students and the teacher gather in a circle on the
floor every morning for 20-30 minutes
What is Morning Meeting?
3. 1. Morning Meeting sets the tone for respectful
learning and establishes a climate of trust.
2. The tone and climate of Morning Meeting extend
beyond the Meeting.
3. Morning Meeting motivates children by addressing
two human needs: the need to feel a sense of
significance and belonging and the need to have
fun.
The Purposes of Morning Meeting
4. 4. The repetition of many ordinary moments of
respectful interacting in Morning Meeting enables
some extraordinary moments.
5. Morning Meeting merges social, emotional, and
intellectual learning.
The Purposes of Morning Meeting
7. Strengthens Speaking and Listening Skills
Teaches Collaborative Learning
Instills Responsibility
Provides a Sense of Community and Positive
Environment
(Research paper also explored two case
studies)
Examples of How Morning
Meeting Benefits Students
8. Students need to learn how to properly
communicate in order to be successful in life
“Most educators assume that listening is a
matter of choice, not ability, however listening
is something students have to be taught to do
well” (Smith, 2003, p. 2)
Students practice active listening and speaking
in front of a group during Sharing
Speaking and Listening Skills
9. How do teachers use Morning Meeting to help
strengthen students speaking and listening
skills?
“If students are consistently using incorrect
verb endings for questions and replies, this
becomes a mini-lesson, and in subsequent
meetings students are asked to focus on their
usage.” -LaVan and Pezán (2005), two teachers
at a Spanish immersion school
Speaking and Listening Skills
10. Cynthia Gardner, a fifth grade teacher, sees the
positive effects of a sense of community during her
class’s science lessons
“Skills such as active listening, articulating ideas to
others, reaching consensus, and respecting others'
views are vital to working as a cohesive group and
are skills that can be isolated during Morning
Meetings” (Gardner 2012).
Collaborative Learning
11. “As I monitor my student teams during science, I
encourage them to practice the skill we discussed during
Morning Meeting. For example, if students have previously
discussed what active listening looks like, I remind student
groups to "show me" active listening. They might respond
by looking at the student speaking or responding to the
speaker. If a student group is examining their data and
having difficulty agreeing, I direct them to our previous
discussion on reaching consensus. Asking, ‘What does
reaching consensus sound like?’ prompts students to
revisit earlier experiences” (Gardner, 2012).
Collaborative Learning
12. During Morning Meeting, students are responsible for
saying hello to their peers, asking relevant questions,
and helping solve problems.
As the year progresses, the teacher may allow
students to run Morning Meeting all by themselves.
“We must believe that they can be trusted and will be
successful in meeting the expectations we hold”
(Kriete and Bechtel, 2002, p. 23)
Responsibility
13. Students form a community during Morning Meeting
“For learning to take place, learners must feel safe.
Morning Meeting helps to create a safety zone and
maintain a climate of trust, respect, and belonging”
(Bondy & Ketts, 2001).
Ketts found that students were willing to help each
other academically, due to the family environment in
the classroom
A Sense of Community and
Positive Environment
14. While students may view Morning Meeting as a time to hang
out with their peers, sing silly songs, and play games, the
research shows this structured time can help students grow
and develop both socially and academically. Based on the
feedback provided by teachers implementing Morning Meeting
and the case studies discussed, it is evident that Morning
Meeting is an effective aspect of the daily classroom routine.
Students become engaged in the school environment from the
onset of the day. With every Morning Meeting students and
teacher start on the same level, sitting on the floor in a circle,
and are able to begin the day together.
Conclusion
