Lesson Plan
Daily Check-In Plan
Guide a 6th grader through a daily self-reflection on emotions and behaviors to set actionable goals and track progress within a 20-minute one-on-one session.
Regular check-ins build self-awareness and emotional regulation by helping students identify feelings, understand behavior patterns, and receive targeted feedback for growth.
Audience
6th Grade Student
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Structured self-reflection with targeted feedback
Materials
Prep
Review and Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Gather and print or load digital copies of all materials:
- Review the student’s previous check-in data to note progress and areas of focus
- Familiarize yourself with the guided questions script
Step 1
Greeting and Warm-Up
2 minutes
- Welcome the student warmly and engage in brief friendly chat
- Remind them of the session’s purpose: honest reflection and growth
- Encourage openness and reassure confidentiality
Step 2
Emotion Reflection
5 minutes
- Provide the Emotion Reflection Pages
- Ask the student to list emotions they felt today and rate intensity
- Prompt context: what events or thoughts influenced these feelings?
Step 3
Complete Daily Check-In Sheet
7 minutes
- Distribute the Daily Check-In Sheet
- Guide the student to record their emotional ratings and behavior observations
- Observe and note any patterns or concerns raised during completion
Step 4
Guided Discussion
4 minutes
- Use the Guided Check-In Questions to explore responses
- Ask follow-up questions to deepen reflection
- Offer positive reinforcement and suggest strategies for challenges
Step 5
Goal Setting and Wrap-Up
2 minutes
- Collaboratively set one specific goal for tomorrow based on insights
- Record the goal on the check-in sheet
- Commend the student’s effort and confirm next session timing
Slide Deck
Daily Check-In Session
One-on-one 20-minute check-in for reflecting on emotions and behaviors. We’ll work together to identify how you’re feeling, discuss patterns, and set a goal for tomorrow.
Introduce the purpose and structure of today’s check-in. Emphasize confidentiality and the goal of building self-awareness.
Session Agenda
• Greeting & Warm-Up (2 min)
• Emotion Reflection (5 min)
• Complete Daily Check-In Sheet (7 min)
• Guided Discussion (4 min)
• Goal Setting & Wrap-Up (2 min)
Briefly walk through each step and corresponding time allotment so the student knows what to expect.
1. Greeting & Warm-Up (2 min)
• Welcome and brief chat
• Remind them of the session’s purpose
• Encourage honesty and reassure confidentiality
Use a friendly tone. Ask about their day or interests to build rapport.
2. Emotion Reflection (5 min)
• Hand out Emotion Reflection Pages
• Ask student to list emotions felt today and rate intensity
• Prompt: “What events or thoughts influenced these feelings?”
Guide the student through naming and rating their emotions. Listen for context to inform later discussion.
3. Daily Check-In Sheet (7 min)
• Provide Daily Check-In Sheet
• Guide them to record emotional ratings and behavior notes
• Observe and record any notable patterns
Observe patterns as they complete. Note any surprising entries or concerning patterns for discussion.
4. Guided Discussion (4 min)
• Use Guided Check-In Questions
• Ask follow-ups based on their sheet
• Offer positive reinforcement and strategies
Refer to the student’s sheet responses. Use open-ended questions to deepen reflection and build self-awareness.
5. Goal Setting & Wrap-Up (2 min)
• Collaboratively set one specific goal for tomorrow
• Record the goal on the check-in sheet
• Praise their effort and confirm next session time
Keep the goal specific and attainable. Tie it back to insights from today’s session.
Next Steps
• Review today’s goal
• Encourage ongoing reflection
• See you tomorrow for our next check-in!
End on a positive note. Remind student they can reflect anytime and that you’re here to support.
Worksheet
Daily Check-In Sheet
Student Name: _________________________ Date: ________________
Use these prompts to help you reflect. You can refer to your Emotion Reflection Pages for more detailed entries and the Guided Check-In Questions if you need ideas.
-
Emotions Today
List three emotions you experienced and rate their intensity (1 = low, 5 = high):
• Emotion 1: ___________ Intensity: ___/5
• Emotion 2: ___________ Intensity: ___/5
• Emotion 3: ___________ Intensity: ___/5 -
Behavior Reflection
What did you do today that you feel proud of?
__________
What was challenging for you?
__________
How did you respond to that challenge?
__________ -
Triggers & Patterns
Did you notice anything that triggered a strong emotion or behavior? Describe below:
__________ -
Goal for Tomorrow
Based on today’s reflection, write one specific goal you want to accomplish tomorrow:
__________ -
Additional Notes
Anything else you’d like to add?
__________
Script
Guided Check-In Questions
Teacher Script for Guided Discussion (4 min)
Teacher: "Now that you’ve completed your Daily Check-In Sheet, let’s take a few minutes to talk through your responses. I’ll ask you some questions, and you can share as much as you’d like."
-
Emotion Exploration
Teacher: "Let’s start with the first emotion you listed. You wrote ‘[emotion]’ and rated it [intensity]/5. Can you tell me what happened that made you feel that way?"
• Follow-up: "Can you describe that moment in more detail?"
• Follow-up: "What were you thinking or doing just before that feeling started?" -
Proud Moment Reflection
Teacher: "You mentioned feeling proud of ‘[proud moment]’ today. What did you do in that situation that makes you feel proud?"
• Follow-up: "How did that make you feel afterward?"
• Follow-up: "What strengths did you use in that moment?" -
Challenge Discussion
Teacher: "Next, you said ‘[challenge]’ was challenging. What was the hardest part of that situation?"
• Follow-up: "How did you respond when you noticed the challenge?"
• Follow-up: "What might you do differently next time?" -
Trigger & Pattern Identification
Teacher: "You identified ‘[trigger]’ as something that triggered a strong emotion or behavior. How did you notice that this was a trigger for you?"
• Follow-up: "What did you do right after that happened?"
• Follow-up: "Have you seen this happen before on other days?" -
Goal Clarification
Teacher: "Your goal for tomorrow is ‘[goal]’. What steps will you take to work toward that goal?"
• Follow-up: "How will you know you’ve been successful?"
• Follow-up: "Is there anything that might get in the way, and how could you handle that?" -
Additional Thoughts
Teacher: "Is there anything else from today’s check-in that you want to talk about?"
• Follow-up: "Is there a question you wish I had asked?"
Teacher: "Thank you for sharing all of this. You did a great job reflecting on your day—remember, noticing these patterns and talking about them helps you grow your self-awareness!"
Journal
Emotion Reflection Pages
Use these pages to dive deeper into the emotions you recorded in your Daily Check-In Sheet. Choose up to three emotions and explore them fully.
Emotion 1: _____________________
1. What event, situation, or thought triggered this emotion?
2. How did this emotion feel in your body? (Describe any physical sensations.)
3. What thoughts or beliefs were going through your mind at that moment?
4. How did you respond to this emotion? Describe what you did or said.
5. What coping strategies did you use, or what could you try next time?
Emotion 2: _____________________
1. What event, situation, or thought triggered this emotion?
2. How did this emotion feel in your body? (Describe any physical sensations.)
3. What thoughts or beliefs were going through your mind at that moment?
4. How did you respond to this emotion? Describe what you did or said.
5. What coping strategies did you use, or what could you try next time?
Emotion 3: _____________________
1. What event, situation, or thought triggered this emotion?
2. How did this emotion feel in your body? (Describe any physical sensations.)
3. What thoughts or beliefs were going through your mind at that moment?
4. How did you respond to this emotion? Describe what you did or said.
5. What coping strategies did you use, or what could you try next time?