Second Grade Perks: Morning Work Routine

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Thursday, September 26, 2013

Morning Work Routine

Tomorrow we have to have a sub for the morning so we can attend a writing training. As I started to write my sub plans the first thing I listed was morning work. All I had to write was they come in and do their morning work and they all know what to do. It felt great, so I decided to snap some pictures to show you what I use and explain to you why I am in LOVE with our routine. First, every table in my class has their own morning work basket with a number on in.


Inside of the baskets are all of the materials they will need for the whole week. (We rotate baskets each week). These materials are a ring with 5 morning work task cards all aligned to CCSS, books, morning work sheets, and a bag with their name for unfinished morning work.

 
 
When the kiddos first get to the room they have their basket already on their table. They pick a card from the basket and get to work. Some cards may ask them to read a book from their basket and complete a task and others may ask them to get a morning work sheet to complete. All of this work is done in their morning work notebook. The pages are numbered in their notebook so they know what page to complete each task on (makes easier for grading). The cards are simple enough that they can complete one card each morning. At the end of the week, I take up the notebooks and baskets and grade them. On each page I either put a check or I circle the number if they need to go back and look at it again. I might even put a note as to why it was circled. Most of the time it is because they did not follow all of the directions on the card such as color your picture.
 
 


 
 
On the inside of their notebook I put the date and the grade they got for the week. As you can see in the picture the first time we did these I waited and graded at the end of the month of August (we had only been in school 2 weeks) and the girl missed 10. After that they start to get the hang of it and do much better.

 
 
I mentioned above that each kid has a bag in their basket. Some days students just don't get finished with a card and if they need to they can put the card and any materials they were using in their bag. That way the next morning nobody gets their card before they get to class.
 
Now why do I LOVE this routine so much? Several reasons. One, it is aligned to CCSS and increases in difficulty through the year. Two, I can get grades from it each week. Three, the kids know what to do all year long without me having to explain it. And the biggest reason of all is because at the beginning of each month all that is required of me is to print and laminate the cards (which I won't have to do next year) and make a few copies of the required morning work sheets to put in their baskets. After I take care of that I am finished preparing morning work for the entire month. Ahhhhhh sigh of relief! It feels great.
 
If you want to try this out in your room there are two choices. You can purchase one month and decide if it is something that would work for you OR you can purchase it as a bundle for the whole year and save $$$.
 
I am so thrilled with this product that I am going to offer a $5 credit to my TPT shop from now through the first week in October to anyone that purchases the bundle and emails me (secondgradeperks@gmail.com) or comments below with your TPT user name. And on top of that right now my shop is 20% off through the 29th!
 
Click on the picture to be taken to the bundle. If you do not want the bundle you can still click on the picture or my shop link above and then search my shop for the month you want to try out.
 

 
Make sure you read my previous post if you missed it about the Fall Blog Block Party so you can snag your 10 freebies and enter the giveaway!
 


 

6 comments:

  1. Looks like your organized and ready to go! Thanks for sharing!

    Jamie
    teachingtidbit.blogspot.com

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  2. Love love love these! Here's how we work it in my classroom: I introduced to 5 of my highest kids (I had them last year for 1st). They get whichever number they need and work on it. If they don't finish it, they put it in the folder in the front of their notebooks (which I got for 10 cents at Walmart last year). I've intro'd it to 3 more kids since then. My highest little girl finished the first 24 and is now on the 2nd pack. I'm not using it with everyone because I have several non readers and a few latecomers. I would love to buy your bundle offer, but I already own August - October so I don't need them. I have Nov and Dec. in my cart to buy today :)

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    1. I love hearing how others use my products. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Wow! These baskets are a great idea! I really love how independent the students can be! I really may have to consider this myself even though I am loving my routine right now. I am wondering if this could be a "warm up" and then the students go to their literacy centers...hmmm. Food for thought. Thanks so much for sharing! I teach second as well so I will be following you! Our blog names are similar too...do you love coffee as much as I do??

    :) Shelley

    The Perks of Teaching Primary

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    1. This could for sure be used as a warm up. Love that idea! I actually cannot stand coffee. I know, I'm like the only person on the planet who doesn't drink the stuff : ) I'm going to check out your blog right now!

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  4. Awesome idea!
    Any ideas or suggestions for adapting for 7th and 11th grades?
    I homeschool and we I 've had a lot of illness this year especially me I need a new way to organize for the times when I am down, like now. My children can work very independently, however only if they have their assigments. I have been ill on and off since June, and did not get things organized ahead of time as I usually do....we have nuddled thru, but would love to do something like this for them!
    Thank you for sharing:)

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