Morning Meetings at Their Best

The other day we were fortunately enough to hear from Vineyard Elementary principal Sylvia Allen. She is an amazing principal and pervious teacher! She was a fifth grade teacher when I was attending Scera Park Elementary. I was not fortunate enough to have her, but I have heard amazing stories and experiences from my friends that were in her class. My little brother was lucky and had her when he was in fifth grade. She made the biggest difference in his life. He was a very sickly boy and had to miss many days at school. Sylvia was so amazing that she would come to our home and teach him one-on-one. She prepared all his lessons and homework each day. She is a one of a kind persona and teacher. I only hope I can be as amazing as she is. She set the standards high for future teachers.

In class she gave us this amazing handout of morning meetings. Even now as a principal she has her entire school do morning meetings once a week together and everyday in individual classes. On the first page is an outline of how a morning meeting goes in her class:

• Class Creed
• Greeting (Monday only)
• Pledge
• Memorization
• Class Business
• Vegetables (Things that are just good for us like what they are going to do in class that day)
• Desserts (Something very specific they did well the day before)
• Medicine (When there is a problem I can't fix any other way. It's nasty, but it cures our ills)
• News
• Share
• Class Cheer

This is an amazing structure! She has implemented this so well.
Something not listed there is the idea of STORMS. These storms are the upsets in life. Instead of having her students come to her with all their problems she set up this idea of storms. Each student uses a basic grading scale to decide what kind of storm their heartache would be.

1. Sunny Day
2. Light Rain
3. Heavy Rain
4. Hale, Lightning and Thunder
5. Tornado
6. Typhoon

It puts the responsibility back in the students laps. They are in charge of how they will handle a situation and solve their own conflicts.
this morning meeting set up is unique and from what she said unified her class. She allowing her students to use their accountability and independence daily. It has many different aspects and tools that will help any student.

The last part I want to mention is the class creed she shared with us. It is beautiful and I think it will touch anyone's heart.

Now I am the VOICE 
I will LEAD not follow
I will BELIEVE not doubt
I will CREATE not destroy
I am a force for GOOD
I am a LEADER
DEFY THE ODDS
Set a NEW STANDARD
Step Up! Step Up! Step Up!