How To Check Morning Work More Efficiently

The key to correcting morning work in a way that’s easy and seamless is to use a format that’s consistent each day so your brain doesn’t have to adjust to a new format as you’re checking student work. 

This also makes it easier for your students to complete their morning work independently so you have time in your schedule to take care of housekeeping tasks before the first lesson of the day. 

If you are looking for a consistent, reusable format for math morning work, check out these Number of the Day Binders. Students will quickly become familiar with the process for completing each activity and the open-ended skill work included on each page makes differentiation effortless for you each day. 

A Clear, Silent Signal 

To make checking work a calm and seamless process, have students who are done give you a silent signal that communicates they are ready to have their work checked. You may want to have students tap their heads as this is an easy signal to see.

When you see the signal, walk over and check their work for accuracy. If their work is accurate, give them a thumbs up so they know they can tuck their work away and move on to the next planned activity. 

Instead of pointing out inaccuracies directly, it is more effective to encourage students to develop the skill of double-checking their work. When checking their work, if you notice an inaccuracy, instead of pointing it out, say “there’s something on this page that’s not quite right. Take another look and signal me back after you try again.” 

This encourages students to review their work, find the inaccuracies, and attempt to fix them. This approach not only helps them improve their accuracy but also helps them to develop the habit of double-checking their work.

If There Are Still Inaccuracies

If students are still unable to find and correct inaccuracies after being given the opportunity to recheck their work, it may be necessary to provide additional support. One way to do this is to make a note of the student and schedule a meeting during your workshop block. Using a chart or tracking sheet allows you to quickly identify students who need support with skills from their morning work. 

During the workshop block, you can quickly glance at your chart and pull small groups of students who need extra support. This targeted approach allows you to effectively address specific areas of need, and improve student understanding and accuracy.

Try This Routine Tomorrow

If you’re looking for a way to add a few extra minutes of prep time into your daily routine, this routine for checking morning work may be the answer. By using a consistent format that is quick and easy to check, you can help your students settle in and warm up their brains for the day while you tackle those routine housekeeping tasks in your classroom each morning. 

If you’d like to try this routine, Core Inspiration offers Number of the Day Binders that are perfect for elementary classrooms. Try them today and see how they can help streamline your morning routine!

• 1st Grade Number of the Day Binders
• 2nd Grade Number of the Day Binders
• 3rd Grade Number of the Day Binders
• 4th Grade Number of the Day Binders
• 1st – 4th Grade Number of the Day Binder Freebie

READ MORE ABOUT MAKING MORNING WORK SIMPLE AND PRODUCTIVE IN YOUR CLASSROOM:

Interested in learning more about weaving math spiral review into your daily morning work routine? Check out these posts:

• An Effective Morning Work Routine For Elementary Teachers
• Planning For An Efficient Morning Routine In the Classroom 
• Homework Drop Box: A Routine To Organize Homework Collection