As our school moves towards an RTI model we are being encouraged to use a daily check in check out system. We meet with our own students and even make connections with students who may not be in our classes. When I heard this plan I was skeptical, sounds like more layers. I was right! It is more layers and it is wonderful!

Building relationships with students is why I became a teacher. So, the check in check out system already aligned with my values. I believed they would have a positive impact on students. I could not have guessed that these small daily interactions would change me as a teacher!

When I Started CICO…

Classroom behaviors decreased, I saw my students as individuals again, and the joy returned to my teaching practice! Reading these small and personal notes helped me keep my eyes above the waves of paperwork, chaos and all of the other things that weigh us down as teachers. I immediately felt more connected to the reason I became a teacher in the first place!

After two weeks of RTI check ins, I decided that a check in and check out was worthy use of ten minutes each day for all of my students.  So… I got to work! 

30 Days of Check In Check Out

I and started using a check in check out journal for thirty days with my learning support groups both k-2 and 3-5. This way students had an opportunity to respond to a quick prompt about themselves each morning. I gave them the option of answering the prompt as written or writing something they felt it was important for me to know. On most days, student responded to to the prompts. On other days, I was left near tears with the things my students shared. It helped me know where they were at each morning and gave me many entry points to connect with them.

When students stopped by to check out with me, they quickly used the rating scale to assign a number to their day. This was so insightful especially during high stress times (like state testing)! I found out quickly what was important to the kids in my groups and I used it to inform my teaching during our social group time. On days that we found ourselves with a few extra minutes, I asked for volunteers to share out. Student to student connections were deepened. A sense of acceptance and understanding spread throughout my groups during these ten minute talks. Students supporting their peers…This is the good stuff! The culture in my classroom thrived.

Resources for the Next Step

At the end of the thirty days I was impressed with the deepened relationships I had with my students. When we completed our journals, they asked for more! Some of my most resistant writers were standing in front of me asking if they had any more check ins to complete! This was a huge teaching win for me. I could not let this opportunity pass! I now have check in check out system for the entire school year. To encourage creativity, the new monthly journals allow students to complete their prompts using a combination of writing and sketching. You can try it with your students for FREE by clicking here.  

I will continue to experiment in my classroom with different ways of checking in and out with each student! If you have a check in check out system that works with your students I would love to hear about it.