Here you see a picture of our daily Morning Meeting.

Morning Meeting is a
major focal point of the Responsive Classroom (NEFC, 1981), and it provides
a calm, welcoming start to the day. During our Morning Meetings, students
are given a chance to say hello to one another, read a warm welcoming
message, respond to questions about their own lives, share creations and
ideas they have developed, and when time permits, play community building
activities. The beauty of Morning Meeting, is that it provides a safe time for
students to settle down, and interact with their peers, while also learning the
benefits and importance of positive socialization.

This daily ritual is essential to my creation of a positive learning environment.
During Morning Meeting I make the days first attempts at meeting the
students' most basic needs (Maslow, 1954) by providing a safe space and a
sense of belonging and love. Morning Meeting, in my mind, is all about the
students and is 100% student centered. During this time, I find that I really
bond with the students by talking to them about things they enjoy, and things
they have on their mind. The typical hustle and bustle of the now assessment
and data-driven school day is set aside during my Morning Meetings, and I
focus primarily on the emotional and social well-being and development of my
students.