Tips for Setting Up Morning Tubs in Your Classroom

Let’s face it. There are so many benefits to using morning tubs in your classroom. Have you ever wanted to try to implement morning tubs in your classroom, but you have no clue where to start? Here is a breakdown of everything to consider when starting morning tubs.

Storage

First, think about your storage options. Look around your classroom and see what you can use to store your activities. Do you want to store the materials in a pocket chart or do you want to use a shelf and tubs? One of my classrooms was very small. That year, I stored my activities in ziplock bags and put them in a labeled pocket chart. I have worked with many teachers who stored their morning tub activities very differently. You just need to think about what will work best for you, your students, and your classroom.

Once you figured out how you want to store and organize your activities, you need to search for the activities you want to use. When you look for morning tub activities, look for some that have a wide range of activities and levels that every single one of your learners will be able complete. Hands-on and kindergarten appropriate activities are essential components of morning tubs.

Here are my favorite morning tub activities for kindergarten. These are perfect for young learners because they are seasonal and engaging. All activities are standards-based and they include a wide variety of skills and levels. Math, literacy, and fine motor skills are included in this pack. There are also explanation pages that have the standards on them for easy understanding of how each activity is based on core standards.

Once you found how you want to store your activities and you found your activities, you will need to determine how you want to set up the activities. A few things to think about: Do you want to change activities weekly, every two weeks, or have all activities out for the whole month? Do you want to store the manipulatives in the tub with the activities?

In my classroom, I use my morning tub pack that has twenty math, literacy, and fine motor activities each month. I set out ten activities at a time. I switch out the ten activities half way through the month. They have two weeks with each set of activities.

Finally, when it comes to setting up, you need to think about how you want it to run when kids come in the room. Do you want them to work with a specific partner or can they choose? Do you want them to do the activities individually, with a partner, or with a small group? Are you okay if students work around the room, like on the carpet, instead of just at a table? Think about how you want your morning to look like, from the moment students walk in the door to the moment you are ready to begin the day’s instruction.

Personally, I find that one of the most important aspects of using morning tubs is making sure you have clear expectations. Practice the routines with your students many, many times. Here are my favorite words to live by, “You have to go slow to go fast”. It is going to take time to get in a routine, but eventually your morning will be so much more smooth.

While the students are completing morning tubs, think about what you are going to be doing at that time. Are you going to do reteaching/remediation or interventions with students? Are you going to provide enrichment? Will you use that time to reassess students?

It can be easy to use the time that students are working on their morning tubs to prepare things for the day, check email, etc. I strongly encourage you to use that time to work with students.

In my classroom, I use that time for remediation and reassessing. I use formative assessment data and general observations to pull a small group to work on a phonics skill or math skill that they are struggling with. During the first few weeks, take it slow. You can walk around the room and check on students. Once students gain independence, you can begin pulling groups.