| Dear Parents or Guardians:
There’s a wonderful way we begin each school day and it’s called Morning
Meeting! We hope you’ve heard about it from your child.
Morning Meeting usually takes about thirty minutes. First thing each
morning, the children and us gather in a circle. We begin by greeting each
other. Every day, your child hears his or her name spoken by a classmate in
a friendly and cheerful manner.
Next, a few students share some interesting news followed by a conversation
with the class. This helps students listen carefully, think about what they
hear, formulate good questions, and learn about each other. When your child
shares, s/he will have a chance to feel that his/her ideas are valued and
that the other children care.
After sharing, there is an activity for the whole class. We might sing or
recite a poem or play a game. The activity time helps the class feel united
as a group, reinforces academic skills and helps the children learn how to
cooperate and solve problems.
Finally, we read the news and announcements chart, which helps students
think about the day ahead. Sometimes, we use this time to teach a reading,
punctuation, or math skill.
Each day, Morning Meeting (MM) lets children know that school is a safe
place where all children’s feelings and ideas are important. We’d love to
have you visit a MM. Just give us a few weeks to get our routine settled,
and then e-mail us to arrange a good time. You’ll see for yourself why
we’re so excited about this start to our day.
Sincerely,
Diana Pankowski & Elise Healy
| |
