Teaching Profession

Morning Rituals Educators Swear By to Start the Day Right

By Marina Whiteleather — January 23, 2023 1 min read
Image of a clock on a spiral notebook.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

A typical day in the life of a teacher or principal is anything but calm. So, how do educators make sure they start the day off right?

We asked Education Week’s social media followers to share the go-to morning rituals that help them mentally prepare for the school day.

Set the tone for the day with uplifting tunes, stories, or videos

A cup of coffee, morning yoga, and an awesome playlist!

- Miss G.

Cozy lights on in my classroom, some fun music on my SmartBoard, and helping my students (early morning office hours).

- Nicole G.

I listen to an audiobook while I get ready. Sometimes it’s the only reading I get to do all day.

- Sara R.

I start every class with a motivational video from YouTube or a similar site.

- John L.

Move your body

Lifting!!

- Coach G.

3:45 wake up. Gym by 4. Back home. At least a 2 mile run with my husky. Breakfast. Shower. Make lunch. Leave for school by 8.

- Blake C.

Morning grounding exercise, self-awareness check in and set an intention for the day.

- Ben K.

Yoga

- Ei M.

Stay grounded in your faith

Bible App and Podcast...🙏🏾🙏🏾

- Michael B.

Starting the day off with prayer prepares me emotionally and mentally to handle the challenges of the day. I find that I am calmer, less anxious, and I get more done when I start my day with Him.

- Queen M.

Prayer and music before I get to my school site!

- Ms. J.

Connect with your students

Being the hype man for students entering class. 🤷‍♂️

- Matt W.

Greeting students at the door, and Morning Meeting!👍🏾

- Lisa H.

💯Building rapport right away.

-Teacher Warrior

We start each day with a morning greeting. Simply saying good morning and naming the child builds connections.

- Mary W.

Related Tags:

Events

Teaching Profession K-12 Essentials Forum Supporting the New K-12 Workforce: What Teachers Need to Stay at School
 Join this free virtual event to discover what teachers say they need to feel supported to stay in classrooms for the long haul.
College & Workforce Readiness K-12 Essentials Forum Career and Technical Education Takes Its Next Big Step
Join this free virtual event to hear creative approaches to modernize CTE programs and navigate the shift away from a near-exclusive focus on "college preparedness."

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Teaching Profession How These Schools Use Teams to Cut Teacher Workloads
California teachers in the co-teaching pilot are reporting higher morale.
4 min read
As districts nationwide experiment with strategic staffing—an attempt to use teachers’ time in different ways to free up collaboration and reduce class size. Strategic staffing—in which schools give schedule flexibility and sometimes differentiated pay for teams of classroom educators—has gained ground in many states as a way to provide more professional development for young teachers and retain educators longer. PICTURED, Students at Whittier Elementary School work in groups and independently, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022 in Mesa, Ariz.
Strategic staffing—in which schools give schedule flexibility and sometimes differentiated pay for teams of classroom educators—has gained ground in many states as a way to provide more professional development for young teachers and retain educators longer. Students and teachers at Whittier Elementary School in Mesa, Ariz., work in groups and independently, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022.
Matt York/AP
Teaching Profession More Teachers Name Classroom Management as a Job Stress Than Low Pay
A national survey highlights ongoing work and home pressures on educators.
3 min read
Teachers follow each other in a circle during a workshop helping teachers find a balance in their curriculum while coping with stress and burnout in the classroom, on Aug. 2, 2022, in Concord, N.H. School districts around the country are starting to invest in programs aimed at address the mental health of teachers. Faced with a shortage of educators and widespread discontentment with the job, districts are hiring more therapist, holding trainings on self-care and setting up system to better respond to a teacher encountering anxiety and stress.
Teachers follow each other in a circle during a workshop helping teachers cope with stress and burnout in the classroom, on Aug. 2, 2022, in Concord, N.H. New data show that teachers continue to face high levels of stress, but many plan to stay in the profession long term.
Charles Krupa/AP
Teaching Profession Opinion We Can’t Give Up on Teacher Diversity
Many efforts to recruit Black teachers leave out a crucial element.
5 min read
Serious young Afro-American teacher in casual shirt standing in front of projection screen and presenting a lesson in class.
Education Week + iStock
Teaching Profession Beach Reads, Not PD: Teachers Set Summer Boundaries
Many teachers plan to avoid summer PD reading, choosing rest and relaxation instead.
1 min read
Illustration of a book, sunglasses, and symbols of romance books, PD, travel, mystery, and adventure.
Collage by Education Week