Murfreesboro students start their day with a smile on The Murfreesboro Post

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Murfreesboro students start their day with a smile

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By: TMP Reports

Posted: Thursday, September 25, 2008 10:05 am

Murfreesboro students start their day with a smile | MCS

Mitchell-Neilson Primary students start the morning with a smile.

Most people have a morning routine and very few of those routines involve greeting their neighbors with a smile and a handshake.

Called Morning Meetings, the children at Mitchell-Neilson Primary greet the morning and each other in exactly this way.

“Morning meetings are our way of starting the kids on the right track,” said Donna Beers-Hill, kindergarten teacher at MNP. “We can discuss the day, upcoming activities, and give the children an opportunity to greet one another.”

Mitchell-Neilson principal Robin Newell agrees and explained the importance of interpersonal skills in the education of children.

“It is important that our children learn to interact with each other as part of a community, to share feelings and talk to each other on a personal level. If they are to learn the basics of reading, math and science, they have to also learn to work together,” Newell said.

The students learn to look each other in the eyes when speaking, use appropriate tone of voice and the importance of speaking clearly, as well as to listen and ask appropriate questions, Beers-Hill said.

It is a vehicle to teach the children about how to treat each other, how to greet someone, and to relate to one another in a positive way … I love morning meeting and use it as a lesson in itself,” Beers-Hill added.

The program has been so successful, all Murfreesboro City Schools have adopted Morning Meeting as part of their teaching practices.

Tagged under MCS

Member Opinions:

By: justdance on 9/25/08

Bravo!!

By: Boo on 9/25/08
Another great story about the great job our teachers do!! Keep them coming, Mike. The school board needs to wake up and recognize all the things these teachers do to give our children a jump start on life. It's more than a lot of children get at home! Great job, Ms.Beers-Hill!!!

By: Hello-out-there on 9/25/08
What an excellent idea! Great job...keep up the good work.

By: debtn on 9/25/08
Blackman Middle School does something similiar. It's called Partners where the kids go to a different classroom before Homeroom and sit and talk so they can meet other students. With all the different mini schools and the number of kids in the school, alot kids do not get to meet others that are not in their mini school. This gives everyone a chance to meet and talk outside their normal circle.

By: FamousDaisy on 9/25/08
Thanks for printing a story that shows the wonderful, positive things going on for children in Murfreesboro City Schools! Our teachers are the BEST. Wish the school board would remember that the KIDS come first- not personal agendas.