After backpacks are stowed away, lunch choices are made and the Pledge of Allegiance is recited, students at Waterville Primary School gather together to start the day with a regular routine that builds community, fosters respect, and sets a positive tone for learning: the Responsive Classroom Morning Meeting. Becky Snyder, a second grade teacher with four years of experience using this approach, shares how this simple yet impactful activity has transformed her classroom and positively influenced her students’ behavior and well-being.
Creating a Sense of Community
For Becky, the Morning Meeting is more than a routine—it’s a crucial part of creating a safe and inclusive classroom environment. She said the 15-minute check in at the start of the day provides an opportunity for every student to have their voice heard and respected.
"Over the years I have learned that routine is incredibly important for students this age. It sets the tone for the whole day,” she said. “Things are often a rush and moving a million different directions at home in the morning, this gives us a chance to just sit, share and listen for a few minutes before we dive into learning.”
Becky said that the students value their time together and are disappointed when a 2-hour delay or other schedule change interferes with their regular start to the day. She said they really look forward to seeing what activity they will do and sharing their ideas with others.
“It gives the students a sense of belonging and helps them feel like they are part of a classroom family," she explains.
The Structure of Morning Meetings
Becky’s Morning Meeting follows a consistent structure and consists of four components:
Greeting: Students participate in an ice-breaker style activity where they have the opportunity to say good morning and greet each other by name, fostering connection and respect. These activities offer opportunities for connection and fun, but also allow them to practice essential social skills such as making eye contact and shaking hands.
Becky said they particularly enjoy an activity that involves everyone taking off one shoe and adding it to the center of the circle. Each student selects a shoe, matches it to its owner and takes a moment to say good morning or offer a compliment.
Sharing: Students share their ideas, thoughts and experiences around the topic of the day.
“This is the academic part, where I ask a question related to something we are learning. Everyone gets a chance to share and we practice our conversation and listening skills,” she said. “They love to talk - they love to share, and this gives them the opportunity to let us know what they think.”
She said the sharing time also gives students the chance to talk about what they are bringing to the school day.
“Sometimes they have a rough start and they can share that things just haven’t gone their way so far,” she said. “It gives us a chance to be mindful of how they are feeling and talk about how we can support someone who is feeling sad or frustrated.”
Group or Movement Activity: The students also participate in a quick game or fun activity that gets them up and moving - getting the wiggles out and helping them focus for the day.
“We will dance or freeze-dance, or do some stretches. It’s just a minute or two, but something where we will move around a bit,” Becky said.
Morning Message: Becky closes the Morning Meeting with an outline of the day's schedule, or learning objectives.
“We will bring it back together and set the focus for the day,” Becky said. “This way, they get a small preview of what we will be learning and know what to expect.
Beyond Morning Meetings: Quiet Time and Closing Circles
Becky also uses other Responsive Classroom practices to round out the day, including quiet time after lunch and a closing circle at the end of the day.
"Quiet time gives students a chance to relax and reset after the busy-ness of lunch and recess," she said. “We slow things down and take a few minutes with a quiet activity to get ready to get back to learning.”
The day ends on a reflective and positive note with the closing circle.
"We gather back in our circle, talk about what went well that day, what we need to work on, and share what we enjoyed," Becky explains. “We always close the day with a read-aloud and they walk out feeling good about the day, which is really important.”
Transforming School Culture through Trust and Respect
Morning Meetings and other Responsive Classroom elements help create a positive learning environment by helping students understand that they are connected and a part of a classroom family.
One of the key lessons Becky has learned over the years is that students need time to connect and be heard. Before incorporating Morning Meetings into her routine, the day would start with putting things away and jumping straight into lessons. Now, there’s a focus on building a connected and respectful community first.
"The kids need that time to come together, share, and feel like they belong," she reflects. "It’s not just about learning academics—it’s about creating a positive environment where everyone feels respected."
She emphasizes that respect and kindness are learned skills that need practice.
“They are only seven and eight years old, so it doesn’t eliminate all problems or disagreements,” she said. “There are still going to be behavior things, but we work on being respectful and how to prevent issues from coming up again.”
Becky believes that students are more likely to resolve conflicts constructively when they feel heard and connected to the classroom community.
"When students feel they belong, they are more likely to respect each other and contribute positively," she says. “I love that we start our days with Morning Meeting and that the structure of the day provides consistency that they need, and that we end the day on a positive note.”
For Becky and her second graders the Morning Meeting provides an opportunity to learn empathy, communication and problem solving skills to build a classroom environment that fosters both personal and academic growth.