Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 Why Morning Meetings? 2
Chapter 2 Strategies for Building Community 15
1 Teaching Rules and Expectations 16
2 Classroom Jobs 18
3 Picture Schedules 20
4 Practice, Practice, Practice 22
5 AR About Me 24
6 Personal Timeline 26
7 What We Have in Common 28
8 Celebrate Differences 30
9 Cultural Exchange 32
10 Building Teams 34
11 Games and Contests 36
12 Treasure Hunt 38
13 Skits and Drama 40
14 Using Music 42
15 Brain Breaks 44
16 Classroom Community Artifacts 46
17 Lesson on Community 48
18 Community Project 50
19 Bringing in Community Members 52
Chapter 3 Strategies for Social Development 55
20 Morning Cheek-In 56
21 Listening 58
22 Asking and Answering Questions 60
23 Rate Your Day 62
24 Sharing Examples 64
25 Eye Contact 66
26 Body Language 68
27 Respect 70
28 Character Traits 72
29 Building Character 74
30 Character Map 76
31 Character Web 78
32 What Would You Do? 80
33 Complimenting Others 82
34 Problem-Solving Activity 84
35 Communication Circle 86
36 Reporting Out 88
37 Emotion Bingo 90
38 How Do I Feel Today? 92
39 Taking Turns 94
Chapter 4 Strategies for Skills Development in English Language Arts and Social Studies 97
40 Rhymes and Chants 98
41 Poetry 100
42 Read Aloud 102
43 Big Books 104
44 Audio Books 106
45 Reader's Theater 108
46 Alphabet Beat 110
47 Phonics Rock 112
48 Morning Story 114
49 Letter Writing 116
50 Crossing the Midline 118
51 Reading Buddies 120
52 Fluency 122
53 The Big 5 124
54 Word Walls 126
55 Vocabulary 128
56 Sign Language 130
57 Repeat After Me 132
58 Comprehension 134
59 Who, What, When, and Where 136
Chapter 5 Strategies for Skills Development in Science and Math 139
60 What's the Weather? 140
61 Calendar Skills 142
62 Months and Seasons 144
63 Holidays 146
64 Sorting Activity 148
65 Mental Math 150
66 Birthday Math 152
67 Number of Days in School 154
68 Linking Chains 155
69 Pattern Blocks 156
70 Money Activity 158
71 Science Journal 160
72 Nature Walk 162
73 Math Stories 164
74 Measurement 166
75 Graphing 168
76 Classroom Patterns 170
77 Shapes and Angles 172
78 Telling Time 174
79 Skip Counting 176
Chapter 6 Bonus Activities 177
80 Total Physical Response (TPR) 178
81 Let's Celebrate 180
82 Hand Jive 181
83 Sound Off 182
84 All Hands on Deck 184
85 Friendship Circle 186
86 Oral Storytelling 188
87 Task Cards 190
88 Theme Baskets 192
89 Activity Cards 194
90 Using Technology 196
91 History Detectives 198
92 Charades 200
93 Finish the Story 202
94 Alternate Endings 204
95 If I Was Anywhere in the World 206
96 Favorite Things 208
97 Rain or Shine 210
98 Fact or Fiction 212
99 Sum It Up 214
100 Bring It On 216
Chapter 7 Bringing It All Together 219
Appendix A Additional Resources 232
Appendix B Handouts, Templates, and Worksheets 236
Artwork Credits 246
Acknowledgments 247
About the Author 248
