Preschool Morning Routine Chart for the Classroom

Add this preschool morning routine chart to your collection of free preschool printables. Use the chart to help your students learn and practice the expectations you have as they enter the classroom each morning.

Even if your routine looks a little different, this gives you a good jumping off point. The visuals help your students double-check the morning schedule, which helps with independence and comfort level.

Be sure to get your copy of the morning routine chart at the bottom of this post. You can have it hung up in your classroom right away!

I recently put together a morning routine chart for my son and I, and I thought it would be great to do the same for my classroom. My students do well with visual reminders, especially when dealing with new routines at the beginning of the school year.

Preschool Morning Routine

I’m a firm believer in encouraging independence in children. No, I don’t expect them to drive themselves to school or anything! I just know that kids are capable. Yes, they’re learning and growing, but they’re also capable of taking on age-appropriate tasks. It helps them build confidence, independence and a sense of responsibility.

When I share back to school tips for preschool parents, I always encourage them to let their children try doing tasks on their own. Being allowed to do so, both at home and at school, sets the foundation for later on.

Both environments are safe places where kids can learn and practice. Their parents and teachers are there to model, assist, guide, and encourage as they become more and more able. Give them responsibilities and they will shine!

What Does A Preschool Classroom Morning Routine Look Like?

To help my preschoolers do this, they have a morning routine when they come into my classroom. They need to:

• Hang up their backpacks,
• Set their lunchboxes on the shelf,
• Place their water bottles in the appropriate basket,
• Put away their daily folders, and
• Sign in.

Whew, that sure is a long list when it’s typed out! Yet my students are perfectly capable of going about this morning routine on their own.

Of course, I don’t expect it to happen right off the bat. From the first day, I explain and model what they need to do. We do the same things every morning, and I help as needed. However, I don’t just automatically jump in and do the tasks for the kids. I walk them through the process and encourage them to try each step on their own. If they need help, of course I’m there.

Use a Morning Routine to Support Independence

The morning routine chart is just a step in this process. It’s there to give the children extra scaffolding as they learn about the classroom routines. Since it has picture cues, it enables the children to try each task on their own. It’s a reference the children know they can consult if need be, and it’s a reference for me as I’m walking them through the morning. I think making a chart WITH the kids in the future will be even more meaningful – they can help me write, and we can add real photos of them completing each task!

As the year progresses, the children better able to run through their morning routine with very few reminders or direct help from me. The preschool parents are often so impressed with how well their kids handle our morning jobs. And the children are so very proud to show their parents all they can do!

Do you have a morning routine chart like this at home or at school? How do the kids use it? If you’d like a free copy of mine, you can grab it at the bottom of this post.

More Ideas for How to Teach Preschoolers Responsibility

For more topics on teaching young children responsibility, check out these ideas:

• Teaching Responsibility in Preschool through Practical Life Skills via The Preschool Toolbox Blog
• Teaching Responsibility: Use a Morning Routine Checklist via Fun Learning for Kids
• Using Group Goals to Teach Responsibility in Kindergarten and Preschool via Capri + 3
• Teaching Kids to be Responsible through Literacy Activities via Growing Book by Book
• Responsibility Interactive Mini-Book and Memory Game for Preschoolers via Life Over C’s
• Homeschool Lesson Plan Checklist via Still Playing School
• Teaching Children How to Be Responsible for their Own Backpack via The Educators’ Spin On It

Tools for Teacher Organization

The time between when a child wakes up and when they arrive at school is such an important time. It sets the tone for the entire day. We, as educators, can’t control what happens during that time. But we can control the mornings in our classroom. But something that we can control is the morning routine in the classroom. I think the most important thing to do each day is being very intentional about greeting each of our students. It’s a great way to start the day off on a positive note. Another way to ensure the day goes smoothly is to seta specific morning routine and stick to it. One way to keep our morning routines going strong is by staying organized.

So, I made a list of some really useful tools in staying organized both in the classroom and when it comes to the lesson planning and logistics of running a classroom. Check them out below.

I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

• Stacking file trays
• File folders
• Clip boards
• Sorting trays
• Nuts and bolts storage drawers
• Table Caddies
• Book bins
• Preschool lesson planning book
• Large desk planner
• Pocket charts
• Contact paper
• Classroom name plates
• Label maker

Keep in mind that this list is in no way extensive. Being organized looks different for each person. So, make sure that you have the tools on-hand that help keep you organized. Doing so will certainly reduce your level of stress each day and throughout the school year.

Done-for-You Preschool Resources

Planning meaningful lessons for students week after week, all while balancing other teaching responsibilities and a personal life, can be a daunting task. That’s where Preschool Teacher 101 comes in to save you time!

Preschool Teacher 101 is excited to share with you some amazing lesson plans, activity packs, and much more! We offer a wide variety of themes that are frequently used in preschool classrooms, as well as some less common (but super interesting) themes. Click on the image below to learn more about some other classroom routines in our preschool procedures product.

Join the waiting list for The Pack from Preschool Teacher 101 today for exclusive access to our amazing products. And we have multiple membership options to suit your needs!

Free Printable Preschool Morning Routine

This free printable is available to members of Fun-A-Day’s free email community. If you’re a member, fill out the form below and the download links will be sent to your inbox. If you’re not a member, you can join us by entering your information in the form. Then you’ll receive the printable as a welcome gift!

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