If you were a fly on the wall in my classroom, you would see that I like routine and structure. This isn’t to say that I don’t do things on the fly (had to throw that in there! )….but there are very clear routines and structure to my day.
One of my favorite routines is starting the day with morning work. I get a lot of questions about how I do this. Specifically, how I mark it or take it up. The truth is, I don’t really mark it. Read on to learn about how I use morning work to start our day off right!
The same paragraph is used over the course of 5 days. This gives them a chance to reread and build fluency. Each day they answer one of these 5 questions:
1. What is the text about? Circle words you don’t understand.
2. What questions do you have? “I wonder…”
3. Underline the key words in the text. Choose one word and tell why it is important.
4. Why did the author write the text?
5. Make a connection! Tell what the text reminds you of.
In first and second grade there is a printing practice section, while third grade is cursive.
Each grade has a sentence editing section where they have to fix up a sentence.
Then on the bottom of each page there are 2 math sections. Each day they work on a number sense topic as well as one other topic. Over the course of 5 days they will touch on number sense, measurement, data management or probability, patterning or algebra, and geometry.
Once I have finished solving the problems of the world (shoelaces, parents notes, bathroom breaks, etc.), then I walk around the room and check in with everyone to see how they are doing. If someone is stuck I give some support. I take anecdotal notes during this time as well.
I have loved this for the math portion because it introduces students to topics before I have taught them. This is why I don’t mark it. BUT when it does come time teaching those topics, they have had exposure to them and it has made it easier for teaching them.
The best part of using the morning work is that my students LOVE it! They look forward to the new reading passage each week, they love printing and cursive practice (you would think it would be the opposite it but they really do love it, even the boys!).
You can check out my first grade, second grade, third grade, and fourth morning work packs by clicking here or any of the images in this blog post.
If you’re looking for digital morning work you can check out my self-grading digital math warm-ups.
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