Showcasing The Power of Morning Meetings

Featuring Mrs. Speight’s Homeroom

For the 2018-2019 School Year, Polenta Elementary School has chosen to implement Morning Meetings (MMs) in an effort to build positive relationships between students and their teachers. As shown by researchers, we have found that Morning Meetings help to establish a climate of trust; motivate students to feel significant; create empathy and encourage collaboration; and support social, emotional, and academic learning. For this edition of the PBIS/SEL Blog, we highlight the students of Mrs. Speight’s 3rd grade homeroom. Take a look at the 7 minute video of Mrs. Speight’s students during a Morning Meeting on 9/27/18 which lasted about 15 minutes. Afterwards, Mrs. Speight had the following to say:

What was the objective/goal of today’s MM?
Today we focused on making relationships, creating our classroom community, public speaking, building confidence, teamwork and promoting foundations to success.

How have MMs impacted you and your students?
Wow! Where do I begin? Morning Meetings have had a positive impact on my students as well as my classroom environment. Students who are known for being shy or lacking self confidence are now showing the opposite. Our Morning Meetings have really been the foundation of creating my classroom culture this year. The relationships and similarities students are finding in each and every one of their classmates is priceless.

Have you faced any challenges with MMs? If so, how have you and your students overcome those challenges?
The only challenge I can think of was at the beginning of the school year. We spent a while laying out the expectations, manners, appropriate comments, questions and behavior. Students were also getting to know everyone’s names. Morning Meetings were lasting about 30-35 minutes at the beginning of the year, and now consistently lasting 15-20.

Have you received any feedback from your parents regarding MMs?
Yes! “This year is night and day with her confidence level, Thank you!”  “She loves coming to school this year”  “He told me all about Morning Meeting and says it’s his favorite part of the day”

Please share any other thoughts or comments about MMs.
My students absolutely love Morning Meeting Time. They understand that Morning Meeting time is a time for everyone to come together and start their day off the right way! I always keep it New and Fresh!
Student comment: “Yay! Morning Meetings are my favorite part of the day”