If September mornings in your classroom feel a little chaotic, you’re not alone. New routines, brand-new kinders, and lots of questions can make the start of the day overwhelming. That’s why having a solid September morning work routine is a total game-changer. It helps students settle in quickly and gives you a chance to breathe before the day really begins. Today, I’m sharing some practical tips (plus a ready-to-go solution!) for setting up a morning work routine that actually works during those first few weeks of school and beyond.
Why Your September Morning Work Routine Matters
The first month of school is all about building routines, and if you’re teaching kindergarten, you already know that the morning routine sets the tone for the whole day. A calm, predictable start can help students feel safe and confident, while also giving you a precious few minutes to check folders, take attendance, and breathe before diving into the busy day ahead. But here’s the tricky part…in September, your kinders are brand-new to school routines. Many are still learning how to unpack their backpacks, follow multi-step directions, or even sit at a table for a short period of time. That’s why it’s so important to keep your morning work routine simple, consistent, and engaging!
Morning work is more than just a “busy activity.” It helps students transition from home to school, builds independence from day one, and sets a calm, focused tone for learning. When your class starts the day with predictable, purposeful tasks, you’ll notice fewer behavior hiccups and smoother mornings overall. And the best part? It will set your whole day up for success! Sound amazing? Let’s dive into how to make it happen!
First, Keep It Predictable with Entry Tasks
When students walk through the door, they need to know exactly what to do, and the simpler, the better. Especially in kindergarten! Whether it’s hanging up backpacks, turning in folders, or choosing a seat, establish a clear system and model it again and again. This helps minimize confusion and starts the day on a positive, independent note.
I like to display a picture-based checklist on the Smartboard to remind students of their “first things first” tasks. This helps visually cue the students and keeps everyone on task. After all, before we can dive into September morning work, we’ve gotta get organized, right?!
Find the Right Activities for September Morning Work
Once everyone is settled and unpacked, you’re going to need a solid option for September morning work in kindergarten. It’s got to check a few boxes right off the bat to be successful. Here’s what to look for:
- Predictable: Same routine each day, so kids know what to expect.
- Independent: Simple tasks students can complete without help.
- Skill-Focused: Practice letters, numbers, fine motor, and other basics.
- Low-Prep: Quick and easy for teachers to set up.
- Engaging, But Calm: Fun activities that ease kids into the day.
- Flexible: Works for the whole group, centers, or extra practice.
Trust me, friend, finding options that align with these items will not only make your morning work time run more smoothly, but it will benefit your kids SO much! And luckily, I’ve got you covered here. . . My September Morning Work Math & ELA Pack hits all of these! It’s consistent, skill-based, independent, and low-prep. Perfect for setting the tone in those crucial first weeks. Let’s take a closer look at some of the fun activities inside this packet.
Try Daily Check-Ins
In this September Morning Work Packet, I included some daily check-in pages that blend beautifully into our September Morning Work Routine. Inside you’ll find a September Calendar, a Daily Feelings Chart, and a Daily Weather Chart.
You can bind these together with other pages and the included covers in the book to create a work packet that students will use all month long. I love to have them trace the number of the day on the calendar, mark their feelings on the chart, and record the weather. Right after they finish getting settled, kids can independently open their books and get started on these 3 tasks. It’s a fun ritual that students always look forward to before we move on to the next step in our routine.
Build in Easy Literacy or Math Warm-Ups
Another one of my favorite things about this September Morning Work Packet is that it makes it super simple to build in a daily review of math and ELA topics. This is such a great way to ensure students are getting the support they need! There are 200+ Pages of ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, and SEL Activities inside! Here’s a little peek:
- All About Me Activities
- Read, Trace & Find
- Missing Numbers
- Shape Matching
- Bigger or Smaller
- Composing Numbers
- Apple Drawing & Writing
- Math Worksheets & Games
- Editable Color by Code Activities and more!
I like to pick some of the more predictable pages out of the packet (remember, there are 200+) and add those to the booklets for students. Once they complete the daily check-in pages, they work on 1-2 pages that follow it independently. At the beginning of the year, kids might need a little extra support and direction, but soon enough, they are able to seamlessly complete this part on their own!
Boost Engagement with Color by Code
Color by code activities are a perfect fit for September morning work because they combine coloring fun with skill practice. Kids love watching their picture come to life with color, and teachers love how easily these pages sneak in a review of letters, sounds, sight words, or numbers. Best of all, they’re calm, independent tasks that keep students focused while giving you a chance to take attendance or handle morning duties!
The September Morning Work Math & ELA Pack includes a wide variety of editable Color by Code pages. You can add any skill you’d like to focus on to make custom skills practice pages that are perfect for morning work! I like to slip these into the packets or leave them on student desks for them to work on as soon as they’ve finished their “first things first” tasks. These will also come in handy for those fast finishers who zip through morning work time before everyone else!
Think Outside the Box with September Morning Work
While independent desk work is a great choice for this time in your day, don’t forget other options as well! For example, partner games! There are so many low-prep, engaging partner games that you can incorporate into your September morning work routine. Not only will your students get an engaging review, but they will also get the opportunity to work in pairs, which is always a great exercise for kindergarten!
I like to choose one of the Number Recognition Games inside my September Morning Work Math & ELA Pack to use every Friday. The students know that on this day, instead of completing a few pages independently, they get to choose a friend and play the simple, low-prep board game instead! This is something everyone looks forward to after a week of hard work in the classroom!
Putting it All Together for the Perfect September Morning Work Routine
The key to morning work in September, and all year long, is consistency. Choose a few routines you know you can maintain, and stick with them until students feel confident. By October, you’ll be amazed at how independently your class can start the day! And of course, I recommend choosing some resources and activities that will help make this whole process easier. Because, let’s be real. . . there ain’t no tired like beginning of the school year teacher tired, right?!
Grab the September Morning Work Pack for Simplicity
If you want a simple, consistent, one-stop shop, The September Morning Work Math & ELA Pack, is for you! There really is a little bit of everything in this packet, making it a great option for the beginning of the year. Plus, this resource is super versatile for the primary classroom. Use the pages to create morning work booklets for your kids to work through day by day, or use the individual pages for daily morning work assignments. Oh, and don’t forget, with over 200 pages, you can fill your morning work and use the other pages for centers, fast finishers, homework, or review, too!
Not to mention, with predictable formats, students quickly learn how to complete the pages independently, making it a lifesaver for busy mornings. Best of all, though, you won’t find any fluff here. Each page focuses on important kindergarten ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, and SEL concepts! Head on over to TPT and snag your own copy of this 200+ page September Morning Work packet to simplify your planning, reduce stress, and best of all – craft the perfect morning work routine for your room!
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Check out these posts next for more support in the primary classroom!
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