Morning Tubs

Morning tubs have been one of my favorite additions to my classroom routine.  The students love this time to interact with each other while being creative.  I have written quite a few blog posts about morning tubs, but I wanted a place where I could answer some frequently asked questions as well share some of my favorite morning tub items with you.

What is your morning routine?

My students begin entering the classroom at 8:00, but the tardy bell does not ring until 8:15.  Some have had breakfast at home, some eat at school, and others bring breakfast into the classroom from the cafeteria.  My students put away their backpacks and complete the morning work on their desks.  After a student finishes, he/she can grab their assigned morning tub off of the shelf and take it anywhere in the classroom to work.  If someone from their group already has the tub out, he/she just joins that group where they are.  We clean up our tubs at 8:30.

How are tubs assigned?

I have six different morning tubs.  I have a chart on my board to rotate the students through the tubs.  There are 3-4 students per tub.  I keep students at a tub for 3 days before switching.  This allows me to only have to change out the tubs every 18 school days.  It also gives the students more opportunities to be creative.  I love seeing what they come up with each day.

What are your rules for Morning Tubs?

Before each round of morning tubs (every 18 days) I show the students the new items in the tubs.  We discuss that we have to take care of these items.  When it is time to clean up, the tubs should look the same as they do when you get them.  Other than your typical classroom rules, I really give the students a chance to be creative.  Sometimes they come up with ideas that are far more than I could have imagined.

What do you put into your tubs?

I have blogged about many of these items, but I thought it would be easier to have it all in one place.  I have included links to items below.  These are Amazon affiliate links.  Any purchase made through these links (at no additional cost to you) helps to support this little area of cyber space and keeps the blog up and running.

Feel free to ask any other questions you have about morning tubs.