Morning Meeting

Term from Teaching industry explained for recruiters

Morning Meeting is a daily classroom routine where teachers gather students at the start of the school day to build community, practice social skills, and set the tone for learning. It's like a warm, structured welcome that typically includes greetings, sharing time, group activities, and reviewing the day's schedule. This practice is especially common in elementary education and is part of the Responsive Classroom approach, though many schools use similar practices under names like "Circle Time" or "Morning Circle."

Examples in Resumes

Implemented daily Morning Meeting to improve classroom community and student engagement

Led Morning Circle activities focusing on social-emotional development

Designed and facilitated Morning Meeting routines that increased student participation by 40%

Typical job title: "Elementary School Teachers"

Also try searching for:

Elementary Teacher Primary School Teacher Classroom Teacher Early Childhood Educator Lower School Teacher

Example Interview Questions

Experienced Teacher Questions

Q: How do you modify Morning Meeting for diverse learner needs?

Expected Answer: An experienced teacher should discuss adapting activities for different learning styles, incorporating multi-language greetings for ELL students, and making accommodations for students with special needs while maintaining the community aspect.

Q: How have you used Morning Meeting to address classroom challenges?

Expected Answer: Should explain using Morning Meeting to build social skills, address behavioral issues, and create classroom community, with specific examples of successful interventions.

Mid-Level Teacher Questions

Q: What components do you include in your Morning Meeting and why?

Expected Answer: Should describe the four main components: greeting, sharing, group activity, and morning message, explaining how each serves different educational and social-emotional purposes.

Q: How do you keep Morning Meeting engaging throughout the school year?

Expected Answer: Should discuss rotating activities, incorporating seasonal themes, student leadership opportunities, and connecting activities to current curriculum.

New Teacher Questions

Q: What is the purpose of Morning Meeting?

Expected Answer: Should explain basic goals of building classroom community, practicing social skills, and setting a positive tone for the day through structured morning routines.

Q: How do you manage time during Morning Meeting?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of basic time management, typical duration (15-30 minutes), and ability to keep activities moving while maintaining student engagement.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic Morning Meeting facilitation
  • Simple greeting and sharing activities
  • Time management basics
  • Following established Morning Meeting plans

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Creating engaging Morning Meeting activities
  • Adapting plans for different grade levels
  • Incorporating curriculum connections
  • Managing student behavior effectively

Senior (5+ years)

  • Mentoring others in Morning Meeting implementation
  • Developing innovative Morning Meeting strategies
  • Integrating social-emotional learning
  • Adapting for diverse student needs

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Unable to explain the basic structure of Morning Meeting
  • Shows no understanding of classroom management during group activities
  • Lacks knowledge of social-emotional learning components
  • Cannot describe strategies for student engagement