Message Ideas Morning Meeting
Morning Meeting is a daily gathering that helps children transition into the school day, build community, and practice academic and social skills. One key component of Morning Meeting is the morning message. Written by the teacher and posted where students can see it as they arrive, the message welcomes children to the classroom, gives them something meaningful to read right away, and helps them focus on the day ahead by highlighting a specific academic topic, social goal, or classroom event.
At first, writing a message every day may seem daunting. With practice, most teachers find that it becomes easier, usually taking only a few minutes each day. The following tips may help:
For example, Monday’s message can always be about events from the weekend, while Tuesday’s focus can always be on science. Wednesdays can be language arts days, Thursdays can be humor days, and Fridays can always feature a math-related topic. Also, some teachers plan a week’s messages as they do their lesson-planning for that week.
Some teachers write the next day’s message at the end of the day, while others prefer to write when they arrive in the morning. Either way, planning ahead cuts down on the stress of trying to think and write under time pressure. Try creating a rough draft on normal letter-sized paper, or simply jot down your ideas and leave a sticky note for yourself on the chart pad.
Messages don’t have to be creative masterpieces. Teachers who pressure themselves to write a lot or to be clever, funny, or artistic often end up with a routine they cannot sustain. Remember that the goal is to engage students, not to entertain them. Speaking directly to the class about things they care about is usually the best way to get their interest.
A quick conversation can help you overcome writer’s block and may generate topics for future messages as well. Reflecting with a colleague on how a message worked can be inspiring, too. Although you will each be writing messages tailored to your own classes, collaboration can be a great way to get ideas and keep things fun.
Daily messages are a small but impactful part of the school day. When written with care and consistency, they welcome students into the classroom, spark engagement, and build community. With a little planning and a focus on what matters, writing messages can become a smooth and rewarding habit.
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