The Family Morning Meeting

Morning meetings are a great way for teachers and students to connect, to review schedules, outline goals, and set intentions for the day. Elements so important to the learning process, principals often require teachers to start all lessons with them. We’ve found when students have a better sense of how their day will look, they are more apt to be attuned to the task at hand.

Let’s be honest though. Creating the same expectations at home can be challenging. Each family member has their own schedule, goals, and motivations for the day. Juggling everyone’s needs while also trying to meet your own needs can be stressful - to say the least. How do we juggle it all, juggle it well, while keeping our sanity.

Consider instituting a family morning meeting at the beginning of each academic / work day. There are a number of good reasons to do so. The day will be more predictable. The day will be better structured. The day will be less stressful - for everyone. Ready to get started? Here are a few ground rules:

Set a Predictable Agenda

In a roundtable manner, review daily to-do list / schedules with each other. Have kids highlight areas of challenge and areas of confidence. Parents do the same. Adjust schedules to support each other. Kids schedule areas of confidence during times of parent work challenges. Parents be sure you are available when kids anticipate their academic challenges.

Keep It Short

The meeting should take 10-15 minutes tops! It should not get in the way of the actual work day.

Be Prepared

Both you and your children should have a good sense of your own day before you start the meeting. If that’s a challenge, include time to develop a to-do list / schedule at the top of your agenda.

Let Kids Lead

Ideally, kids will lead the meeting. But if this is a stretch, model these leadership skills for them. Over time, gradually release the responsibility to your child(ren). You want them to be able to facilitate meetings too, it’s a great skill to have!

Follow-Up Mid Day

Lunch is a natural time to check in with your children. How is the day going? Are there any unforeseen challenges? How did you handle them? What’s working well for you? Where do you additionally need my support today?

Work in Progress

Remember, there will still be challenging days no matter how well prepared you are. Kids are a work in progress, just like adults. Emphasize improvement over perfection!