Morning Meetings

How important are they really?

Morning meetings could make or break a child's experience in school. There have been multiple teachers who have dared to be different and make the change and implement the morning meeting into their daily routine as a teacher. This 30 minutes of the day should be different than other time during the  day. There are seven main points to a morning meeting and they are

• Class Creed
• Greeting
• Pledge
• Class Business
• News
• Share 
• Class Cheer

The morning meetings bring a class together as a culture, and to let them have the best and safe environment. This is the only 30 minutes of the day that every child can be 100% successful. During the CLASS CREED it is something that each class decides to recite more like a class motto. Each child is encouraged to memorize the creed but it will come for every student eventually. The GREETING should only be done on Monday. This is where a student or the teacher makes an extra effort to greet each child and ask about his/her weekend. The PLEDGE should be done every morning and there should be an emphasize on how important the pledge really is and how it should be quiet and there should be respect. The CLASS BUSINESS is conducted by the classroom there is three subparts in this section they are the vegetables, dessert, and the medicine. Also there is two choices both are the teachers choice but let the student have some accountability by making a decision. The next section is the NEWS this is world news, school new, and anything important that needs to be discussed. This could be the only time some students get to hear the news and the reality of what is going on in the news. The SHARING is probably the most important part of the entire meeting. This is where each student has the opportunity to show they have a voice, and an opinion. Every student should share at least one thing whether it be an answer to a question or asking another student a question. The CLASS CHEER is where they meeting is coming to an end and it is time to begin the regular part of the school day.
   I am so excited to have the opportunity to have Morning Meetings, I think that as a teacher I need to know that my students have 100% trust in me and in the classroom so that they will be able to have the comfort to share what they want. I am excited to get to see different students personalities coming out and shining how they are true star students. 

who what where when why

The 5 W's 

WHO

We should include every child in every classroom, and every situation. When teaching the students we should teach to every child and that means at different levels.

WHAT

We should differentiate in every subject, like guided reading, words their way, and in different groups.

WHERE
In the classroom, on the playground in the lunchroom each child should know they are important  in every room in the school no matter how high or low academically that child is. 

WHEN

Every second of the day it should be on the mind. We can not always differentiate but if it is always in the back of the brain when it needs to brought up it will be there and ready to be used.

WHY

Every child has the right to learn, and to be taught on their level. As a teacher we need to differentiate to each child to let them learn what they really need to. 

Golden Ticket Hallmarks

The hallmarks of a differentiated classroom 

1.  A strong link between assessment and instruction.
2. Absolute clarity about what the teacher wants the student to know, understand, and be able to do.
3. Shared responsibility for the classroom is between teacher and students, in the goal of making it work for everyone.
4. Individual growth is emphasized as central to classroom success.
5. A "way up," usually through multiple and varied pathways, and never a "way out." 
6. "Respectful" and engaging work for all students.
7. Proactive thinking and planning for different pathways.
8. Flexible grouping.
9. Flexible use of time, space, and materials.