Arrival/ Morning Work/ Homenotes

I used this center at the start of my day with my students. I will go over the various steps and different scenarios I have done throughout the years.

First, this is is arrival time for students in the class. Students will independently or with assistance take out homework folders and put them in mailboxes and take out lunchboxes/snacks.

I have a mailbox for homework folders. This mailbox is where we add any schools events/news and our daily homenote to be sent home.

Homenote are parent/teacher communication tool. Each teacher has a different one, and the styles may vary. This helps parents know how the students day were. My parents really enjoy this. I have change the format throughout the years. My assistants help me complete this daily. Before it is sent home, I review and I add any additional comments if necessary.

Previews of my homenotes:
Front                                                                               Back

(ADD HOME NOTE IMAGES)

​Back Changed                                                         Change of homenote

It doesn't matter the format you choose, but try to make it simple to complete. And be consistent, our parents get used to this forms and will address you if you miss them! :) If you miss one, make sure to contact parents in alternative modes.

Once, we have dealt with students arrival task. It is time for morning work!

Morning work is calendar math. We review math skills. This will help you address various math skills at once. We review months, days of the weeks. Tally, HTO, days of schools, money, patterns and times. Everything must be customized to students academic needs.

​When I had the younger ones, I would sing introduction skills to greet all the peers. Also, we would review the monthly themes... (IE: Feb... groundhog day, valentine's day). Everyday we would review events with tangibles, and hands on materials.

For example, in February we would learn about valentines day. We have  a mailbox with valentine's cards. Each students with close their eyes and get a card, then find the student whose name is written on the card, go up to them and say Happy Valentine's Day... Name!

This way they practice social skills while learning about the monthly event. Normally, we also sang a song with each theme... love song, groundhog song.

I will post this monthly activities throughout the school year. :)