During this week’s class, Brittany Johnson was our quest speaker. She came to share with us her classroom management strategies that have worked for her. We talked about things like SEL check-ins, modeling, soft starts etc. 

Routine is a very important aspect of classroom management. It sets the students up so that they know what to expect and they can become more comfortable in the classroom. Brittany talked to us about SEL check in which stands for social and emotional learning. An example of this is like the check ins that we do as a class or the Inside Out one that was shared by her. The idea of these check-ins is a simple way to connect with you students right from the beginning of each class.

Brittany also took time to explain something that she has found as a positive experience for her students. She expressed the use of ‘soft starts.’ This idea is what helps students get into the classroom and begin their day with an easy self-instructed activity. This activity can be something that also transitions into the day’s activity or lesson. Brittany expressed that this routine could help students and the teacher to get everyone level and ready to learn. 

The idea of self-check-ins and soft starts can be beneficial for a wide range of students. I believe that even as students get older it is appreciated when the teacher considers how they are feeling and having an opportunity to talk about things that may be going on or how the teacher can help the students. Soft starts can be a positive addition for a wide range of students as well, although I do think that as students get older that may give them an opportunity to arrive late, knowing that they aren’t missing any important information/ instruction.

Brittany is a K-12 French Immersion educator. She uses these classroom management strategies in a variety of age groups. After reflecting in the paragraph above about how it could be harder to engage older students in soft starts, I went an did some research of my own. I found this website Soft start for older students that has soft start ideas that are more inclined to work with the older aged groups of students.