3. Morning Routines

Suggested Activities
Sing together
Start the morning off by singing two songs from the students’ songbook. Let two students choose a song each (alternatively, let it alternate according to the protocol). If you can play guitar, it’s only good - otherwise, every one sings along to the best of their ability. Singing is a beautiful way to start the day as it brings togetherness and creates inner peace and a shared positive energy. The teacher uses a couple of minutes afterward to end the singing with 5 deep, guided breaths.
 
Question of the day
Since it is essential to give students self-determination and recognition for their competencies, the teacher can ask them each week to write down some questions on a small piece of paper. It can be all kinds of questions that the student wants answered, such as. “Why do we have to do homework?” “What is your favorite color?” “Why does anyone tease?” “Why do you say cats have seven lives?” “The best thing about a friend is ...?” “What I love most is ...?”
 
The students’ questions will form the basis for the “Question of the day” in the following week, which the students will be met with in the morning - written on the board. When students enter the class, they must, in their notebook, answer the day’s question in silence until everyone has responded to it. This brings the class together, gives a calm and reflection, and gives a sense of meaning because they know they came up with the questions themselves. 
 
The teacher uses 10 minutes to hear some of the answers and end the round with 5 deep breaths.
 
Morning yoga
Morning yoga is a significantly positive way to start the school day. Many students can come to school anxious or stressed, already from the morning, if the parents have not created some lasting morning routines at home. This can make it harder for students to learn and receive instruction, as their thoughts are often disturbed by worries.
 
Yoga provides a way to relieve stress and gain focus. By teaching students simple yoga poses, their attention can be maintained, reducing the accumulated stress.
 
Students can stand in a circle, and do a few exercises with a focus on breathing and balance.
 
The teacher guides by saying:
  • Reach your arms out to the sides, lift them up to the sky, and then relax back down.
  • Twist your whole body from side to side and swing your arms back and forth.
  • Lift up onto your tiptoes and reach your fingers high.
  • Bend your knees and sweep your arms back.
  • With your knees bent, glide your hands up high.
  • Press down through your feet and stretch your spine so it is long.
  • Roll your shoulders back and press your palms together.
  • Sit with your legs crossed (still in the circle). Grow your spine taller, roll your shoulders back, and rest your hands on your knees.
  • Still sitting comfortably, close your eyes. Take a deep breath in and let a long breath out. Let your whole body relax. Notice the air as you take another deep breath in and out.
  • Does it feel cool?
  • Does it feel warm?
Now, let a word come into your mind that describes how you want to be today. It could be a word like “joyful,” “kind,” “friendly,” or “curious.” It could be a word like “happy,” “peaceful,” “enthusiastic,” or “brave.” Choose the word that best describes how you want to feel. Hold it in your mind. As you breathe in, fill yourself up with the feeling you want and as you breathe out, send this feeling out into the world. Feel how you want to be today. Take another deep breath in and let a long breath out. Open your eyes. You are ready for this day.
 
Breathing exercise
This exercise is good for students when they need to focus and concentrate on a task. It takes 5 minutes and creates a good start to the day.
 
The teacher guides:
  • Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound. Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7. Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of 8.