This welcoming routine was documented by the CARE Network . It can be used with all ages (including adults!)

Background and Purpose

Create a supportive welcome routine that is authentic and establishes trust and respect in your classroom. As education professional Linda Darling-Hammond has said, “when that sense of belonging is there, children throw themselves into the learning environment”.

Mood boards are a time-efficient welcoming routine that are suited to both in-person and online classrooms. Mood boards give teachers and students the opportunity to check in with each other as humans prior to engaging in content work.

Expected Time

5 minutes at the beginning of each class

Materials

Slides with Mood Boards

An example of a mood board slide.

How to do it

1. Begin each class by projecting the mood board of your choice 
2. Invite students to identify the number that corresponds with how they are feeling today. In an online class, they might type it in the chat. In-person, they might just think about it. 
3. Have students share their answer with a partner and select some students to share with the class – either their result or something they heard form a partner. Online, this might be through brief, randomly assigned breakout rooms.
4. Check in with any students that are feeling low or angry. Send an email or check in individually – “Hey, I noticed you seemed a little mad/sad/upset today. Is everything okay?”
5. For students who chronically choose sad/mad, email their counselor, case manager, and/or social worker.

Reflection

At the end of the week, take a moment to reflect on what you tried. 

• How did students respond? What might you change?

Next Steps

• Bring in themes that attend to culture for example “which scientist are you today” could include a board of scientists of color. 
• Have students create the mood boards using images or themes of interest to them.

Resources

• Watch the welcome routine in action
• How new teachers can create a welcoming routine
• Linda Darling-Hammond – sense of belonging
• SEL 3 Signature Practices – CASEL Toolkit