Check-In Ideas

According to CASEL, Collaborative for Academic, “Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.” There are five components of Social and Emotional Learning: Self Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making. When we take a moment to check in with our students and with each other, we offer a chance to be aware of our feelings and those of our peers. 

Metaphorically Thinking 

1. What is your emotional landscape right now and why?

2. Choose an item that best represents how you are feeling right now? 

(from Dr. Amy McConnell Franklin) 

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AfterCLASS has compiled all of our Check-In Ideas on one presentation! 

Students seem stressed? 

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WINTER CHECK-IN:

Despite the current temperature in our lovely city, the holiday season is nigh. In some cities, winter brings snowflakes. Sorry, NOLA. Well, as you know, each snowflake structure is complex and unique. Think about the traits that make you unique. What positive attributes do you think of when you consider yourself?

Directions: Create a snowflake and affix it to our greyish, lavender paper. Write your attribute and your name near your snowflake. Then, write a positive attribute that you believe one of your colleagues possesses.

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Also good for Writing into the Day (quick-writes) activities–from George Brown College

Say a phrase, five words or less, that describes your day yesterday.

Finish the sentence: The best news I’ve had in the past week is…

Finish the sentence: When I was little, I thought I wanted to be… Name one skill you have that no one in this group knows about.

Name the last book you read that you thought was worthwhile.

Finish the sentence: The next time we meet, we should… What do you need to get from the group today?

If you could be any other age, what would it be?

What is one thing that you would like to accomplish before your next birthday?

What is the biggest challenge you face in the first 10 minutes of your day?

What is the most interesting thing that happened to you last week?

If you could relive one event, what would it be?

What are you likely to daydream about today?

If you could interview someone for half an hour, who would it be?

What was the last good deed you did?

What one quality would you most like to see people exhibit?

How would your next-door neighbor describe you in two words?

Using only facial expression and body language, show how you feel now?

If you were going on vacation today, where would you go and why?

What animal do you feel like today?

Name a movie, book or song that describes how you felt yesterday.

If you won the lottery today, what would you be doing tomorrow?

Name the worst movie you’ve seen recently.

Tell the group a funny thing that happened to you as a child.

If you were a weather report, what would you be today?

How do you relieve stress?

When you doodle, what do you draw?

What was/is your favorite cartoon character? Why? 

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Emoticon Check-In 

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App Check-in 

Cereal Check-In

Which cereal are you feeling like today and why? We are also collecting cereal boxes for our discussion on Environmental Print in Emergent Literacy.

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Dwelling Check-In 

  or include your own idea!

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