Lesson Plan
Check-In Chart Lesson Plan
Enable a 6th grade student to identify and reflect on daily emotions and behaviors using structured tools, fostering self-awareness and guiding targeted teacher feedback.
Consistent self-reflection builds emotional regulation skills, helps students recognize patterns in behavior, and informs personalized support to improve social-emotional growth.
Audience
6th Grade Student
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Structured reflection and guided dialogue.
Materials
Prep
Review Materials
5 minutes
- Gather and print copies of Daily Check-In Sheet, Guided Check-In Questions Script, and Emotion Reflection Journal Pages
- Familiarize yourself with key prompts, emotion vocabulary, and reflection cues
- Arrange a quiet, private space for one-on-one discussion
Step 1
Warm-Up
2 minutes
- Greet the student warmly and invite them to sit comfortably
- Briefly explain the purpose: self-reflection to understand feelings and behaviors
- Emphasize that there are no right or wrong responses
Step 2
Complete Daily Check-In
5 minutes
- Hand the student the Daily Check-In Sheet
- Ask them to rate their mood on the feelings scale and note behaviors (e.g., focus, participation)
- Encourage honesty and reassure confidentiality
Step 3
Guided Check-In Discussion
7 minutes
- Use the Guided Check-In Questions Script to prompt reflection:
- What made you feel this way today?
- How did you respond when you felt upset or distracted?
- What strategies did you try to stay focused or calm?
- Listen actively and validate their experiences
Step 4
Emotion Reflection Journal
4 minutes
- Provide Emotion Reflection Journal Pages
- Ask the student to write or draw one situation where they felt challenged and one positive moment
- Encourage them to note what helped them manage or celebrate that emotion
Step 5
Feedback & Goal-Setting
2 minutes
- Offer specific, positive feedback based on their reflections
- Collaboratively set one small, actionable goal for tomorrow (e.g., use a deep-breath strategy when upset)
- Remind them you’ll revisit this goal in the next check-in
Slide Deck
Check-In Chart: Daily Self-Reflection
Objective: Reflect on emotions and behaviors to build self-awareness and guide growth
Duration: 20 minutes
Materials:
Welcome the student with a friendly greeting. Briefly explain that this daily check-in helps them understand their feelings and behaviors. Remind them that honesty is key and there are no wrong answers.
Warm-Up
- Greet the student warmly and invite them to sit comfortably
- Explain: “This is time for you to share how you’re feeling and what happened today.”
- Emphasize: “There are no right or wrong responses—just what you experienced.”
Use a warm, calm tone. Invite the student to settle in. Emphasize the purpose is understanding, not judgment.
Step 1: Complete Daily Check-In
- Hand over the Daily Check-In Sheet
- Rate your mood on the feelings scale (e.g., happy, calm, frustrated, angry)
- Note behaviors like focus and participation
- Remind: “Everything you share stays between us.”
Hand the Daily Check-In Sheet to the student. Encourage them to fill it out honestly. Observe their mood choices and any notes on behaviors.
Step 2: Guided Reflection Questions
Use the Guided Check-In Questions Script:
- What made you feel this way today?
- How did you respond when you felt upset or distracted?
- What strategies did you try to stay focused or calm?
Read each question slowly. Give the student time to think and respond. Acknowledge their answers with nods and brief validations.
Step 3: Emotion Reflection Journal
- Provide Emotion Reflection Journal Pages
- Draw or describe one challenging moment and one positive moment
- Note what helped you manage or celebrate that emotion
Provide the journal pages and art supplies if available. Encourage the student to write or draw freely. Offer prompts if they get stuck.
Step 4: Feedback & Goal-Setting
- Share one positive observation based on your reflections
- Set a small, actionable goal for tomorrow (e.g., use a breathing strategy when upset)
- Remind: “We’ll revisit this goal in our next check-in.”
Highlight specific strengths (“I noticed you recognized your frustration and took deep breaths”). Offer an example goal if needed (“Tomorrow, try pausing and naming your feeling before responding”).
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
- Great work today—thank you for your honesty!
- Keep practicing the strategies you picked
- See you tomorrow for another check-in
End on an encouraging note. Remind them practice builds skill. Confirm next session time.
Worksheet
Daily Check-In Sheet
Name: ________________________ Date: ________________________
- Mood Rating: Circle the face that shows how you feel today.
😃 😀 🙂 😐 😞
- Behavior Tracking: Rate your focus, participation, and effort today (1 = Low, 5 = High).
| Area | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | |||||
| Participation | |||||
| Effort |
-
What helped or made you feel this way today?
-
What could help you improve your focus or mood tomorrow?
Script
Guided Check-In Questions Script
Teacher (Opening):
“Thanks for filling out your Daily Check-In Sheet. I’d like to ask you a few questions about how your day went so we can plan ways to feel even better tomorrow.”
1. Explore the Mood Rating
Teacher: “You circled feeling [insert student’s mood rating here] today. What happened that made you feel that way?”
• Pause and give the student a moment to think.
• Follow-Up Prompts:
– “Can you tell me more about that moment?”
– “What was going on around you when you first noticed that feeling?”
2. Examine the Response
Teacher: “When you noticed you were feeling [same feeling], what did you do next?”
• Allow silence if needed; nod to show you’re listening.
• Follow-Up Prompts:
– “What was going through your mind at that time?”
– “How did your body feel—tight, jittery, calm?”
3. Identify Strategies Tried
Teacher: “You rated your focus as [insert focus rating]. What helped you stay focused, or what made it hard to concentrate?”
• Follow-Up Prompts:
– “What strategies did you try to calm down or refocus yourself?”
– “Which of those felt most helpful?”
4. Brainstorm Next Steps
Teacher: “Thinking about tomorrow, what could you do if you notice that same feeling or distraction again?”
• Offer Examples if Needed:
– “You might take three deep breaths, ask for a quick break, or use a stress ball.”
• Follow-Up Prompts:
– “Which of those sounds like something you’d try?”
– “Where and when could you practice this?”
Teacher (Closing):
“Thank you for sharing so honestly. What you’ve told me helps me support you and set a small goal for tomorrow.”
Journal
Emotion Reflection Journal Pages
Name: ________________________ Date: ________________________
-
Describe a time today when you felt challenged or upset. What happened? How did you feel in your body and mind?
-
Describe a positive moment or success you experienced today. What made this moment special? How did it make you feel?
-
What strategy, action, or support helped you manage your feelings in each situation above? How could you use this again in the future?
Cool Down
Wrap-Up Summary
Name: ________________________ Date: ________________________
-
One insight I had today:
-
One goal I will work on tomorrow: