This is Why You Need to Start Using Morning Bins in Your Classroom!

Last year, I began starting our day with morning bins as a paperless replacement for morning work.  It has been such a great move, and I wanted to quickly share why I love them and what I use.

• There's nothing to make up.  If a kid is absent, late, or eating breakfast, they're not missing anything crucial.  They can jump right in when they get to school.  It's so easy! 

• Morning bins encourage creativity and socialization- two things our kids need every day! I love to see them building, creating, and playing games together.  They learn to share, to communicate, and to think outside the box.  I often see them using the materials differently than the intended use, and that's okay.  The opportunity to explore new things is SO good for them!  

• You can include materials to review content. I often put math games in a tub for students to play.  They're games that we've already played in class, so I don't need to reteach them. There's always someone at the table who remembers how to play.  Include the dice, spinners, etc.  

• No papers to check.  No guilt about piles of papers staring at you.  

• They can be as involved or as simple as you want.  Work with your students' needs and interests.  This crew of mine this year loves to build and play with Play Doh, so I've gravitated toward different materials to address their interests.  Last year's crew loved puzzles and card games.  

• You can use the time to do what you need to do- check in with kids, paperwork, attendance, last minute planning🙋, and you don't have to stop to explain morning work over and over.  
• Morning bins are really easy to clean up and keep organized.  I use plastic shoe box-style containers from Target to organize my materials.  They have lids and can stack easily.  I store them in our cubbies.  The kids know where everything is located and can independently get out and put away all materials.  

• You can do seasonal activities without taking away from core curriculum.  After holidays, I often pick up the foam craft kits at Michael's to use the following school year in morning bins.  I can easily add simple seasonal elements to bins I already have to make a brand new and exciting bin.  Play Doh example: In December, I make the Play Doh bin into a cookie-making bin.  I put out white, tan, and brown play dough.  I added in small rolling pins, cookie cutters, and pony beads (sprinkles). I can easily change out the colors and tools for different themes.  
• You can just use stuff that you have around your classroom, or you can buy things.  I use a mix of both.  I use classroom requisition money, Scholastic bonus points, yard sales, and Target dollar bins/Dollar Tree for most of my things.  I also use a ton of stuff from my math closet. In this post, you can see 50 things that I love using in my morning bins.  

It truly is such a great way to start the day.  I have about 25 minutes from the time kids start arriving until we start our ELA block, but it works just as well if you only have 10 minutes.  It's stress-free and really sets a nice tone for the day.  I love not having the mess with morning work papers and getting kids caught up on missing papers.  Try it!  I think you'll love them.