Amanda Leger | Wichita Collegiate School | Wichita, Kansas
In this video, a teacher discusses the morning routine she uses in her classroom. Each day, students find the rock with their name on it, wash their hands, and choose whether to greet their teacher with a hug, high five, or handshake. Routines make children feel safe and the daily repetition means they know exactly what to expect each time the come to class.
Read Transcript
Morning routines are an important part of early education. It helps them to feel safe when they come to school knowing what to expect and what to do. When my students arrive at school, I have a basket of rocks that I have written their names on. When they arrive to our classroom they find their rock with their name on it. This is good exposure for them to read their name, and to not accidentally grab another friend’s name. It’s also a way that I have them take care of their own attendance, if they’re here they grab their name and put it into our family nest. As the day goes on the nest tells us who’s here, and the basket tells us who’s not here. After they put their rock into the nest, they grab a squirt of hand sanitizer. As they’re washing their hands they think to themselves how to greet the teacher. Will I give her a hand shake, a high five, or a hug. “Grab that rock please. Rock in, and handshake, high five, hug? What do you think?” “My shoes are very slippery.” “Your shoes are very blue and pretty. Tatum as you’re walking, excellent, soap those hands. While you are soaping handshake, high-five, hug? Hug this morning, good morning, welcome to school. Have your rock, rock in, check. Wash your hands. Handshake, high five, hug? Oh, a hug! Thank you, Jude. Welcome to school.” This way it’s their choice on how to greet me in the morning, and to start our day off right.
