A classroom morning routine is essential because it sets the tone for starting the school day. Routines offer students a predictable structure; as a result, this consistency sets them up for success each and every day.. We've gathered A TON of morning routine tips and ideas from the teachers in our 1st grade / 2nd grade Facebook groups that will give you some ideas for your students.

Take the fast track and go straight to Angie's Calm the Chaos training!

Classroom Morning Routines and Ideas

1- Breakfast Routine

“Come into the room at 7:45. Watch some PBS kids while they wash their hands, do their lunch counts, and eat their breakfast. Then announcements start at 8:00. Morning routine until 8:15 and then we start our day!” -Bailey A.

2- Checklist for Students

“Hang up backpacks, put take home folder in seat sacks. Get breakfast. Eat. Pledge, lunch count, check folders.” -Jamie Z.

3- Bell Work

“They come in and do morning work (at this point it is coloring mystery pics) but I hope to incorporate spiral morning work! This works especially well with our staggered arrival, as it allows students to settle in smoothly..” -Katie P.

4- Morning Work Weekly Themes

Keep it varied We have a 25 minute arrival period before the bell rings so this year we’re doing a different morning work every day to shake things up and make it fun and exciting every day!” -Taylor S.

• Make-It Monday: we put a directed drawing on the smart board and the kids draw/color it. 
• Technology Tuesday: each kid first gets their computer, and then they play on an approved site.
• Write About It Wednesday: we start by posting a “Would You Rather” writing prompt. Then, students write their responses in their mini-journals.
• Read-to-self Thursday (haven’t come up with a creative title yet 🙃): kids get their book boxes and read! 
• STEM Friday: we have individual STEM bins for kids (I used the Michaels “toothy” bins) and work at their desks! 

5- Morning Meeting

“We do a 20 minute morning meeting first thing, all grades K-5.” -Jocelyn K.

6- Unfinished Work & Tech

“They can come in any time after 7:45. They put anything in their folders for me in a tray and can get breakfast to bring back to the room. Then after finishing any unfinished work from the day before, they do spelling practice and then can choose Lexia, IXL, Read to Self, or morning tubs until after announcements around 8:25!” -Zach D.

7- Reading Time

“Kids enter from classroom exterior door as they arrive. They go directly to their desks and read on an online platform or from the book bins I curate for them each week. We take attendance and place lunch orders. Then morning meeting circle, greeting, group community-building activity, sharing, and morning message.” -Jennifer A.

Find out more about Morning Meeting Conversations.

8- Handwriting

“I have them do a handwriting worksheet and we have morning meeting.” -Kayla K.

9- Breakfast & Announcements

“We come in, I pass out breakfast, they watch the morning announcements as they eat, then I take their lunch orders, we go to the restroom and get our day started.” -Sara

10- Read Aloud

“When they come in, they sit at their desks with their backpacks. I read a book aloud—something that goes with our science or social/emotional learning. Then as announcements come on, they go to their cubbies in small groups.” -Danielle A.

11- Morning Tubs

“We have a soft start/morning tubs. They have 10-15 to chill. We have school announcements. Then we have morning meeting on the carpet. I tell them what’s going on for the day and they each have an opportunity to share their news. Then we do The Phonics Dance and our Picture of the Day. We usually have an hour left for whatever our shared reading is and our reading groups.” -Maria K.

12- A Predictable Routine

Backpacks on hooks, lunch on the floor, water bottles on shelves, lunch cards in pockets, greet teacher, and watch the principal's FB live (10 min). Write the sight word, hang it on the board, sing a morning song, then circle time: greetings, student sharing, activity, schedule review, and calendar update. The student of the day leads a rule review and Lucky Duck drawing. Instruction starts with phonics and writing lessons, 30 min of writing, then recess, a bathroom break, and reading groups. -Kathleen T.

13- Social Emotional Learning

“We do Tiger Time (morning meeting), which differs depending on the day. Most of the time, it’s a SEL book or questions.” -Susie S.

Calm the Chaos Training

Join Angie for a replay of her popular Calm the Chaos training where she covers your solutions for:

• Peaceful morning arrivals
• Purposeful & engaging morning meetings
• Easy transitions
• Meaningful brain breaks

Take a Deeper Dive

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