Visual Check-in Cards
Searching for a simple yet effective method to gauge your students' energy levels and boost engagement in the classroom? These Visual Check-in Cards are one easy way to help both you and your students!
Benefits of Visual Check-in Cards:
- Emotional Awareness: Check-ins allow students to recognize and express their emotions more effectively. By using simple visual cues - such as the excited, neutral, and tired cards - students can identify and communicate their current emotional state without the use of words.
- Increased Engagement: By understanding how each student is feeling, teachers can tailor their approach to enhance engagement. If a student indicates tiredness, the teacher can modify the activity to incorporate energizing components that re-engage the student. Tune into the student’s energy level and increase engagement by leading interventions to counteract the energy level.
- Empowerment and Agency: Using visual check-in images allows students to take ownership of their feelings and encourages self-reflection. By actively participating in the check-in process, students can develop agency and become more engaged in their own self-regulation.
Ideas for Using Visual Check-in Cards:
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Morning Check-In: Begin each day by asking students to select the card that represents how they feel at that moment (ex. point to the card, move to the card). This allows the teacher to get a quick snapshot of the overall emotional climate of the class. If many students indicate tiredness, the teacher can plan activities that gradually increase energy levels, ensuring a smoother transition into the day.
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Transition Times: During transitions between activities or subjects, provide students with a brief moment to check in using the visual cards. This can help students acknowledge and regulate their emotions before moving on, promoting a smoother transition and reducing potential disruptions.
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Group Discussions: Use the cards as a starting point for a group discussion about emotions. Encourage students to share why they selected a particular card and discuss strategies for managing different emotions. This practice can foster empathy, emotional intelligence, and a sense of community within the classroom.
Download the Visual Check-in Cards.
