#2ndchat is a Twitter hashtag that can be used to chat, collaborate, and grow with other second grade educators from around the world. Every other week we will discuss a different topic. It's a great way to help grow your PLN (Professional/Personal Learning Network) and share ideas with others.
Hi everybody!! Let's get started by introducing ourselves and by telling how we like to start our school mornings. I am a big fan of morning tubs and morning meetings!! I am from Andover Kansas #2ndchat
Hi everybody!! Let's get started by introducing ourselves and by telling how we like to start our school mornings. I am a big fan of morning tubs and morning meetings!! I am from Andover Kansas #2ndchat
My name is Carol McLaughlin. I teach 2nd grade in Birmingham, AL. I like to start my mornings with a soft start. My kids can read, write, or work on personal projects. They can work with a partner or alone. :) #2ndchat
Kaitlyn Ralston from Liberal Kansas! We start our mornings with sharing good news and answering a fun question of the day with our groups. Looking into changing these things and adding to it so looking forward to this chat! #2ndchat
Hi #2ndchat I'm Lanny from Saskatchewan Canada. I probably don't do soft starts as often as I should but when I do I like to incorporate some activity with teamwork and movement
Hi, Lanny! Soft starts are my favorite. I have a student this year that really struggled in 1st grade because of many reasons but one was they started right into content. She needs a slow entry into the day! I do, too! #2ndchat
#2ndchat A1 Hi! Peg from PA, I teach 2nd grade and start the mornings with a social -chatting with friends until after announcements, then our required Enrich/Remediate time... "Adventure Mode", (thanks @Mr.Watkins). Then, we have our "AM Show" hosted by students.
A1: We start by forming a circle and we learn to greet our classmates. We also learn to respectfully listen to someone share and make a positive comment. #2ndchat
A1: I love greeting my kids out in the hall. Since I start with a soft start and not morning work (that doesn't really say, Good morning, to me:) then I have a few minutes to talk to each student. They get to talk to their friends, too. We are a family! #2ndchat
I’m Jen Kesler at I teach in Stockton Ks. We r a redesign school! We start mornings with first 10 and then go to our community groups PreK-7 for 30 minutes. #2ndchat
Q1 I’m always at the door greeting my students with a hug or high five and they tell me what zone they are in. We use zones of regulation. This helps me gauge my kids and how their morning may have went. #2ndchat
Hi everyone! Sorry I am late, I just got off of work! I am studying at Cedarville University! I love morning activities to get the kids moving! #2ndchat
A1: I like having music playing and we start with a community circle which I learned from Tribes training. We go around and share and it gives me a sense of how students are feeling at the start of the day. #2ndchat
A1:giving jobs for two people to work together builds a community with your students! Also giving them a fun activity to all complete together for a prize would be a fun way to start the day! A morning meeting would be great for sharing thoughts #2ndchat
Agree! Meeting each student with a smile and/or handshake is a super way to make them feel welcome and start the day of right! It gives you a chance to connect with Ss. #2ndchat
A1: I love greeting my kids out in the hall. Since I start with a soft start and not morning work (that doesn't really say, Good morning, to me:) then I have a few minutes to talk to each student. They get to talk to their friends, too. We are a family! #2ndchat
A1: We do affirmations and greeting each other. Ss are able to share good news in the morning and we work on listening. We also do compliment circles sometimes where every Ss is able to give a compliment and receive a compliment. It has helped build community. #2ndchat
Yes agree! and if possible to control the lighting that's important too! Dr. Marsha Tate talk about this in her book and offer some practical strategies! #2ndchat
A1: We always started with a greeting at the door and a soft start. The kids could either read or write when they first came in the door. Sometimes I give them a STEAM challenge to kick off the morning. #2ndchat
A1: We do affirmations and greeting each other. Ss are able to share good news in the morning and we work on listening. We also do compliment circles sometimes where every Ss is able to give a compliment and receive a compliment. It has helped build community. #2ndchat
I love starting some mornings with fun STEAM challenges. Just simple things like lego, tower building, etc. Sharing indirectly occurs as we're busy doing a hands on project #2ndchat
A2: Zones of Regulations are a great way to do this or a temperature check with Emojis or warm fuzzies activity. You could also go around and share something ou are greatful for this morning. #2ndchathttps://t.co/LkBXu92wMq
A2: I don't do morning meetings yet but I would imagine you could talk about typical emotional situations they face (like feeling left out, losing a game, winning a game, feeling sad,etc...) #2ndchat
We LOVE greeting and smiles and compliments. You just have to be careful when we say "Bless your heart" because as you know it can mean SO many different things! ":) #2ndchat
a2- I like to do check ins with students individuals not when escalated because like banging head against wall for both of us. Stories also picture books make get teaching tools. #2ndchat How full is your bucket is a wonderful book
A2: I like to have students have time each morning to share how their week or weekend was. It gives them time to share their best/worst thing. It helps them see other people have hard things too and give them time to communicate with each other #2ndchat
Q2 I always make sure basic needs have been met. We have a peace corner for regulating emotions more independently. Letting each person share something about home one on one. Our community groups somewhat take the place of a formal morning mtg. #2ndchat
I love this to choose how you like to be greeted in the morning. I think this could help with getting the temperature of your class and zones!! #2ndchat
A2: I always thought it was important to help students talk through issues with each other. They needed to hear each side of the story with a mediator to help them work through any issues. I do appreciate all that is being shared by others on this topic! #2ndchat
I feel that is what morning meeting can do!! We share and then someone always relates or just thanks them for sharing their story!! It builds those social skills too. #2ndchat
A2 we have a walk and talk in the morning before class. This gives me time to see how Ss are doing before class. I am able to talk to my Ss and have my mind ready of what emotional support they might need in the day. Morning meeting could be used for some of this. #2ndchat
I saw this outside a classroom today and wondered. I think this is perfect! I'm not always in the mood to hug someone, but I can always give a fist bump. #2ndchat
Yes, we have a whole process they go through before they come to me(unless it's violence of course). They tell the person to stop. Then they ask them to please stop again or they are going to talk to an adult. If the child CONTINUES to bother the person, I get involved. #2ndchat
A3 Prime the pump. I think as we start talking about past learning and looking forward you can remind, focus, and gear students towards learning new content. Shouldn’t a surprise were doing new math today. #2ndchat
I'm trying to teach them to stand up for themselves in a positive way- with their words but if they do this and the person does not stop then I need to be a mediator. It seems to helps most situations. Of course some things demand my involvement immediately. :) #2ndchat
A2: ask the student stimulating questions to get them thinking! If time allows, give a fun riddle for them all to serve together. This allows them to work together #2ndchat
Q3: there is something about music that can set the tone for the day! Think pair share with music! Play a song, stop music, grab a partner and share responding to any ?
This helps my shy ones participate more and everyone is engaged! #2ndchat
A3: I think we have to talk care of the social/emotional needs before we can tackle academic/content needs. I think that causes lots of problems- kids start the day with anxiety & it never gets better. #2ndchat
We do this whole thing called bug and a wish. We learn to say "It bugs me when __________. I wish you would ____________________." It helps them learn to problem solve and not just tattle. #2ndchat
We do lots of riddles and learning songs. Sometimes we just do a quick 4 corner game or I like to have something in a box that goes with the learning theme. They can ask questions to find what it is. #2ndchat
When we first learn I have these little papers stapled to popsicle sticks with a bug on one and a wand on the other. We do different scenarios to practice. #2ndchat
#2ndchat
Another awareness activity we do on some Mondays...Manners or NOT! Former students wrote the situations, we do about 10 a week or so....
https://t.co/NIZ3FOpORw
We start the year with scenarios in morning meeting and practice. later when something comes up I help them walk through it with their real life problem. #2ndchat
A4 Yes there was a chat last year on #2ndchat and I kind of did them but I'd like to be more consistent in the future. It's a great way to start the day.
A4: I enjoy starting my day greeting my Ss and good news but wanting more on incorporating soft starts and Ss choices.. how long? What should be included in those? Where to start? #2ndchat
I have a 15 minute soft start. I start out the year with reading solo or with a partner. Then I add in writing (solo or with a partner) and now they can also work on personal projects/research if they want. :) #2ndchat
This is from the Erin Waters Pack. There are lots of ways to do this. I have even seen chart paper as a fun way to circle and share stuff in a message. #2ndchat
Love this. I need a digital version. I would end up writing and rewriting it by hand (scars from getting B's in handwriting in elementary school) :) #2ndchat
