Safe, Seen, and Challenged in Practice
A Sample Practice: Morning Meetings
Morning Meeting sets the tone for the day.
Start each day with a short circle: a greeting, a chance to share something hard or something proud, and a reminder that mistakes are part of learning. For a quick and effective check-in, ask children to use one word to describe how they feel that day.
When it’s time for more challenging work later in the morning, kids are already in a rhythm of trust.
Why it matters
Children can’t enter the “learning zone” unless they feel emotionally safe. A few minutes of connection in the morning helps make the more complex work later in the day possible.
Pitfalls to avoid
Pitfall 1: Being too scripted
They lose their impact when morning meetings become too mechanical (for example, rushing through greetings or asking the same question). Children can tell when it’s just a box being checked.
What to do instead
Stay responsive. Rotate between different prompts, invite real emotions, and adapt to the energy in the room. Authenticity builds trust.
Pitfall 2: Requiring participation that may overstep a child’s boundaries
Sometimes, well-intentioned prompts can push children to share more than they’re comfortable with, especially around what’s “hard.”
What to do instead
Offer opt-ins, not requirements. Make space for silence or private sharing. Phrases like “You can share aloud, write it down, or just hold it in your heart” give children agency.
Keep an eye out for more practical tips on helping children feel safe, seen, and heard in the classroom—because every child deserves to feel like they belong.