 So, teaching first grade is rewarding and exhausting on a daily basis! We do too much and there are times when you can be just as effective with little work, as with a ton!  So here is an idea to make your life a little easier. Â
  When I first started teaching I was writing a new morning message each day, trying to be creative at 7 a.m. when I needed to make more copies and reply to emails. Then I got smart! Now I write one morning message a week.Â
Here is how:
1. So, I write the message about what we’ll be learning for the week. Â I also write it with many mistakes. I insert mistakes that the students may actually make themselves while writing. Â
2. On Monday we read the message and work to correct the mistakes. We use white out tape and the correct color marker and students come up and fix all of my errors.Â
3. On Tuesday-Friday we focus on one language arts standard per day. We might look for nouns, verbs, or adjectives and circle them in a particular color. We might search for sight words, words that have digraphs, contractions, words with the ed or ing ending. The possibilities are endless. Â We also circle the parts (date, greeting, body, closing and signature) of the letter on Friday. Â
Furthermore, my kids love coming up to circle or put boxes around words. In addition, they love fixing mistakes and everyone wants to be the one to circle the “body” of the letter on Friday.  Imagine that first grade teachers.  🙂Â
16 thoughts on “Relax :)”
So SMART!
Great idea!
Mrs. Wills Kindergarten
Ok, I teach older ELL students and I LOVE this! So smart! I am definitely going to try this out at our morning meetings…thank you so much!! 🙂
Kristen
Ladybug's Teacher Files
I could not agree more with you! Everyday I am trying to come up with something creative for DOL or journal. This is such a great idea!! I am going to have to stop myself and wait till next year to use it! The end of the year and I am still trying to add new stuff! That is one of those you know you are a first grade teacher whens…!
Ms. Thomas
thefirstgradejungle.blogspot.com
Very efficient!!!
Why didn't I think of this?! What a terrific idea and timesaver!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
off2kindergarten.blogspot.com
Oooh… I love this idea! I gave up my morning message for the simple reason that you stated above! This, however, is very meaningful and engaging, as well as super easy!
~Laura
http://www.firstgradeFUNdamentals.blogspot.com
I love MM! It's one of my favorite parts of the day – the kids are always so attentive and conversational 🙂 Great idea, Michelle!
Now that's teaching smart and not hard! You rock! Thanks a bunch for sharing!
Thank you for sharing.
I love MM too! I have a pretty simple format that I use on my smartboard. My kids love to circle and correct things with the pen on the board and it is easy to quickly change each day before school.
Not to mention, that by the end of the week, the students have read it so many times they have improved their fluency with the passage.
I would send it home with the Star of the Week. They would love that!
http://firstgradeintheyellowhallway.blogspot.com/
I used to do letters like that with my first grade and I COMPLETELY forgot about it! Gotta bring it back!
Genius! Eventually you'll be able to do your Morning Message on the computer and use the same one year after year 😉
Outfitted and Inspired
Thank you so much for sharing! This is a great idea I will definately use it next school year.
Great idea! I use my computer and my projector for MM. Love your ideas!