• lenny-learning-logoLenny Learning
  • Home
    Home
    • Lessons
    Lessons
  • Curriculum
    Curriculum
  • Surveys
    Surveys
  • Videos
    Videos
  • Support
    Support
  • Log In

Ever-Ready Routine

user image

Maygol Yaleh

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Morning Routine Blueprint

Establish a consistent morning meeting routine by guiding 2nd graders through a greeting circle, daily check-in, assigning classroom roles, and completing a morning checklist to build self-management skills.

This lesson helps students start their day focused, promotes personal responsibility, and reinforces structured habits, supporting their self-management development per CASEL.

Audience

2nd Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Structured, interactive morning meeting and checklists

Materials

  • Daily Check-In Slides, * Morning Checklist Handout, * Greeting Circle Cards, * Classroom Helper Chart, * Routine Wrap-Up Posters, * Chart Paper, * Markers, and * Sticky Notes

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Review and load Daily Check-In Slides on the classroom projector or interactive board
  • Print and cut out Greeting Circle Cards and hang up Classroom Helper Chart on chart paper
  • Print enough Morning Checklist Handout for each student
  • Display Routine Wrap-Up Posters in visible areas
  • Arrange markers and sticky notes at students’ seats

Step 1

Greeting Circle Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Invite students to the carpet for a circle gathering
  • Pass around Greeting Circle Cards so each student selects one
  • Model using the card to greet a peer (“Good morning, Alex; I see you’re holding the sun card!”)
  • Have each student greet a classmate using their card and share a positive “hello” phrase

Step 2

Daily Check-In

10 minutes

  • Project Daily Check-In Slides
  • Ask students to mark their attendance and select a mood icon on the slide (“happy,” “ready,” “okay,” etc.)
  • Discuss briefly why noticing our feelings helps us manage our day
  • Introduce today’s classroom roles and invite students to sign up for helper spots (using the slide’s interactive feature)

Step 3

Assign Classroom Helpers

5 minutes

  • Refer to the Classroom Helper Chart
  • Explain each helper role (line leader, paper distributor, board cleaner, etc.)
  • Call on volunteers or rotate names to fill open helper slots
  • Post a sticky note with each helper’s name next to their role for the day

Step 4

Complete Morning Checklist

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Morning Checklist Handout
  • Guide students through tasks: unpack backpack, sharpen pencil, read daily agenda, etc.
  • Encourage independent completion and offer help as needed
  • Collect checklists when finished or let students keep them to refer back

Step 5

Routine Wrap-Up

5 minutes

  • Gather students back in the circle
  • Review the steps completed this morning using Routine Wrap-Up Posters
  • Ask volunteers to reflect: “Which step helped you feel ready?”
  • Praise effort and remind students that following our routine helps us learn
lenny

Slide Deck

Daily Check-In

• Click your name to mark yourself present.
• Then choose a mood icon that shows how you feel.

Welcome students to the morning meeting. Explain that we’ll begin with attendance and checking in on how we feel today. Invite everyone to participate by clicking or tapping on the slide.

Attendance

Who’s here today?

[ ] Student Name 1
[ ] Student Name 2
[ ] Student Name 3
[ ] Student Name 4

(Students click their own name box to check in.)

Teacher: As each student clicks their name, watch the attendance checkmarks appear. Praise them for being on time.

How Are You Feeling Today?

Select the face that shows how you feel:

😊 Happy 👍 Ready 😐 Okay 😟 A bit worried

Explain each mood icon: “happy,” “ready,” “okay,” or “a bit worried.” Encourage honesty and remind them all feelings are okay.

Today’s Helper Roles

• Line Leader
• Paper Distributor
• Board Cleaner
• Tech Helper

(Click a role to volunteer!)

Introduce today’s helper roles. Read each role aloud and show its responsibility. Then invite students to click a role to sign up.

All Set!

Great job checking in!

Next up: Gathering for our Greeting Circle.

Congratulate students for checking in. Transition into the greeting circle next: “Let’s gather on the carpet for our Greeting Circle Warm-Up!”

lenny

Warm Up

Greeting Circle Warm-Up
Time: 5 minutes

Objective:
Help students practice positive greetings and build classroom community.

Materials:
* Greeting Circle Cards

Steps:
1. Invite students to sit in a circle on the carpet.
2. Shuffle and pass around the Greeting Circle Cards; each student selects one.
3. Model a greeting: “Good morning, Alex! I see you’re holding the 🌞 card — how are you today?”
4. Students pair up with the person across from them to exchange greetings using their card and a friendly phrase.
5. Invite 2–3 volunteers to share their greeting exchanges with the whole class.
6. Collect cards and transition to the next activity.

lenny
lenny

Activity

Classroom Helper Chart
Objective:
Provide a clear, visual display of daily classroom roles to help students practice responsibility and self-management.

Materials:
* Chart paper or poster board
* Markers
* Sticky notes (one per role slot)

Setup Instructions:
1. Title the chart “Today’s Helpers” and draw two columns: Role and Helper’s Name.
2. List each role in the left column:
- Line Leader
- Paper Distributor
- Board Cleaner
- Tech Helper
- Messenger
- Pencil Monitor
3. Leave the right column blank for student names.
4. Post the chart in a prominent spot near your morning meeting area.

Daily Use:
1. During the Daily Check-In, invite students to volunteer or assign via rotation.
2. Have the selected student write their name on a sticky note and place it next to their role.
3. At the end of the day, remove sticky notes and prepare for the next morning.

Reflection Prompts:
• Which role did you enjoy the most today? Why?
• How does doing your helper job help our classroom run smoothly?

Link to Morning Routine Blueprint to see how helpers fit into our routine!

lenny
lenny

Cool Down

Routine Wrap-Up
Time: 5 minutes

Objective:
Revisit our morning routine steps, reflect on feelings of readiness, and highlight the importance of self-management.

Materials:
* Routine Wrap-Up Posters
* Sticky notes or response cards

Steps:
1. Invite students to sit back in our circle.
2. Display the Routine Wrap-Up Posters showing each step of the morning routine.
3. Ask students to think: “Which step today helped you feel most prepared?”
4. Students place a sticky note next to that poster step with their name or draw a star.
5. Invite 2–3 volunteers to share why they chose that step and how it helped them.
6. Summarize: Emphasize how following routines supports self-management and readiness to learn.

Reflection Question:
What is one routine step you will remember tomorrow?


lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Morning Checklist Handout

Name: __________________________ Date: _______________

Good morning! Check off each step as you finish:

[ ] 🎒 Unpack your backpack and put your folder/book in the bin.

[ ] ✏️ Sharpen your pencil.

[ ] 📖 Read today’s agenda on the board.

[ ] 📝 Check your homework clip (if you have homework).

[ ] ✅ Mark today’s date on the calendar.

[ ] 🗂️ Organize your desk area (tissues, supplies, etc.).

When you’ve completed the checklist, draw a big smiley face below to show you’re ready to learn!




Smiley Face: ___________________________

lenny
lenny