How to Start Morning Meeting in Upper Elementary (Even If You’ve Never Tried It Before)
What I’ve learned from helping thousands of teachers implement morning meetings is this: most teachers just need a place to start.
And once you start? It changes everything — your classroom management, your student relationships, your community.
If you’re an upper elementary teacher thinking “isn’t morning meeting just for littles?” — keep reading. I’m here to show you exactly how it works, why it matters, and how you can literally start tomorrow.
So grab your coffee (I’ll make mine too), and let’s dive in.
What Is Morning Meeting?
Morning meeting is a daily practice made up of four consistent parts:
Message
Greeting
Sharing
Activity
These four parts — when done every single day — help you create an intentional classroom culture, improve communication, and tackle behavior issues before they take over your day.
While morning meetings are super common in primary grades, I specialize in bringing them to upper elementary classrooms — because yes, your third, fourth, and fifth graders need this too. In fact, maybe even more than your younger learners.
Let’s break down each part of the morning meeting and how you can make it work for your big kids.
The Four Parts of Morning Meeting (Explained for Upper Elementary)
1. Message: Set the Tone for the Day
As students walk in, I always have a message slide projected or written on the board. It’s usually a simple to-do list or a quick “good morning” prompt.
The message slide is your chance to:
Share the schedule or reminders
Set the day’s tone (example: “Happy Mindset Monday!”)
Help students transition into the day calmly and confidently
This is not the time for heavy instruction — just a welcoming message that gives students something to do as they settle in.
2. Greeting: Build Community One Hello at a Time
Once students finish reading the message, it’s time for the greeting. In my classroom, I have them greet one another as they move from their seats to the carpet or morning meeting circle.
The greeting can be:
A wave
A bow or curtsy (kids love this one)
A fist bump or high five
A themed greeting (like "superhero hello")
It seems simple, but this routine teaches so much: respect, inclusion, eye contact, and how to interact with peers in a structured way.
Bonus: You’re building public speaking confidence one quick “hi” at a time.
3. Sharing: Value Every Voice
Once we’re all seated in our circle, it’s time for the sharing prompt.
This is where your students:
Get to know each other
Learn to listen actively
Learn how to express themselves
Practice turn-taking and empathy
I like to use a themed prompt for each day of the week, like:
Mindset Monday: “What helps put you in a good mood?”
Travel Tuesday: “Where would you go if you could travel anywhere?”
Wacky Wednesday: “Would you rather have pizza for every meal or never eat pizza again?”
Have students share with a partner first, and then ask a few to share out with the whole class. This keeps things moving and gives quieter students a chance to participate too.
4. Activity: End With Play
Here’s the part my students look forward to the most: the activity or game!
This is always the final part of morning meeting in my classroom, and it’s non-negotiable. We always play a game.
Some quick favorites for upper elementary:
Blizzard: Students walk around the room while music plays. When it stops, they race to get into a group of a called-out number (e.g., “Group of 5!”).
Would You Rather: Kids move to one side of the room depending on their answer.
Silent Line-Up: Get students in line by birthday, height, shoe size — but they can’t talk!
Games help you teach collaboration, leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship — while also giving your class a burst of joy first thing in the morning.
Why Morning Meeting Works (Especially for Upper Elementary)
Morning meeting is more than just a warm-up or filler. It’s a foundational part of your classroom management.
Here’s why it works so well with older elementary students:
It Builds Relationships That Prevent Behavior Issues
If your classroom management feels chaotic, it might not be your rules — it might be your relationships. Morning meeting helps you:
Get to know your students
Help students feel seen
Build peer-to-peer connections
Address social/emotional needs in a structured way
It Makes Time for What Actually Matters
So often, we’re rushing through the day and missing the chance to talk about what’s going on in our students’ lives. Morning meeting gives them a voice and helps them regulate their energy before the academic day starts.
It Creates Routine — Without Boredom
The structure stays the same, but the content changes every day. That balance of predictability + variety is exactly what your students need — especially those who crave routine but also get bored quickly.
But Isn’t Morning Meeting Just for Littles?
Absolutely not.
I know morning meeting is most commonly used in K–2 classrooms, but upper elementary students crave connection just as much — if not more.
In fact, many upper grade teachers tell me that their students are more engaged in morning meeting than they are in core subjects!
Once your students get into the rhythm, they start looking forward to the greetings, the shares, the activities — and you’ll wonder how you ever started a day without it.
What If I Don’t Know Where to Start?
The biggest thing I hear from teachers is:
“I love this idea, but I don’t know what to say or what to do each day.”
And that’s exactly why I created a FREE whole week of morning meetings completely done for you. The slides include:
Message prompts
Greetings
Sharing questions
Daily activities and games
Free Morning Meeting Slides | Upper Elementary Morning Meeting Freebie
Try it out with your students and see what kind of magic starts happening in your classroom!
Ready to Try Morning Meeting? Here’s How to Start Tomorrow
If you’re ready to get started, don’t overthink it. Here’s what I recommend:
Project a simple message slide with a welcome and instructions.
Choose a greeting for students to use as they transition to the circle.
Use a quick sharing prompt to get students talking.
End with a fun game — even just a minute or two.
That’s it.
Don’t worry if it’s not perfect. Don’t worry if you miss a day. Just start — and build from there.
Morning Meeting Can Transform Your Classroom
Morning meeting has changed my classroom — and my entire approach to teaching.
It’s not just about SEL or “soft skills.” It’s about creating the kind of classroom where kids feel safe, seen, and excited to learn.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to try it… this is it.
So — are you going to give morning meeting a try?
Let me know and definitely tag me if you test it out with your students. And if you ever need ideas or support, I’m just a message away.
Let’s build strong classroom communities — one morning meeting at a time!
