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Check-In Chat

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Cassandra Maake

Tier 3

Lesson Plan

Check-In Plan

Conduct a daily 5-minute one-on-one check-in to help the student identify mood, set a short-term goal, and reflect on challenges to build self-awareness and regulation.

Consistent brief check-ins give students a safe space to name emotions, focus efforts, and practice emotional regulation, improving engagement and confidence.

Audience

5th Grade Student

Time

5 minutes per session

Approach

Visual mood tool + guided prompts.

Materials

Mood Meter Slides, Daily Check-In Prompts, and Star & Wish Journal

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

  • Preview the Mood Meter Slides to understand each quadrant.
  • Read through the Daily Check-In Prompts and note follow-up questions.
  • Open or print the Star & Wish Journal.
  • Reflect on icebreaker questions to build rapport.

Step 1

Greet & Set Context

1 minute

  • Welcome the student warmly and invite them to sit comfortably.
  • Briefly explain: "Today we’ll check in on how you’re feeling, set a goal, and think about supports."

Step 2

Mood Identification

1 minute

  • Display the Mood Meter Slides.
  • Ask: "Which color/word best describes how you feel right now?"
  • Invite the student to explain their choice in one sentence.

Step 3

Goal Setting

1 minute

  • Use the Daily Check-In Prompts to ask: "What is one goal you want to focus on today?"
  • Encourage clarity (e.g., "I will ask for help when I feel stuck").

Step 4

Reflect on Challenges & Supports

1 minute

  • Ask: "What might make this goal hard? What could help you succeed?"
  • Listen and acknowledge responses; note key supports (e.g., break reminders).

Step 5

Star & Wish Reflection

1 minute

  • Invite the student to write in the Star & Wish Journal:
    • Star: Something they did well recently.
    • Wish: One area they’d like to improve.
  • End with positive reinforcement and plan for the next check-in.
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Slide Deck

Mood Meter

We’ll use this tool to name our mood with colors. Each color stands for a way you might feel right now.

Introduce the Mood Meter and explain how we’ll use colors to name feelings. Keep it simple: “We’re going to pick a color that shows how we feel today.”

Mood Zones

🟥 #FFE8E1 Upset / Frustrated

🟧 #FFD1C3 Calm / Okay

🟨 #FFBCA6 Happy / Excited

Show each colored box next to its label. Point out that the student can think of other words that fit each zone.

Pick Your Mood

Which color looks like how you feel right now?

• Point to it or circle it.

Pause and give the student a moment to choose. Prompt them: “Tell me why you picked that color.”

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Discussion

Daily Check-In Prompts

Below are the guided questions to use during your 5-minute one-on-one check-in. Each section includes a main prompt and optional follow-up questions to help the student elaborate.

1. Mood Check-In

Question: Which color or word best describes how you feel right now?

Follow-Ups:
• Can you tell me why you chose that mood?
• Did something specific happen before today that’s still on your mind?


2. Goal Setting

Question: What is one goal you want to focus on today?

Follow-Ups:
• How will you know when you’ve reached that goal?
• Can you make it a “I will…” statement? (e.g., “I will ask for help when I feel stuck.”)


3. Anticipating Challenges

Question: What might make this goal hard to achieve?

Follow-Ups:
• Have you faced something like this before?
• What feelings come up when you think about this challenge?


4. Identifying Supports

Question: What could help you succeed with your goal today?

Follow-Ups:
• Who or what could you ask for help?
• Are there reminders or tools that would keep you on track?


Use these prompts each day to build self-awareness, set clear intentions, and plan supports.

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Journal

Star & Wish Journal

Use this simple two-column page each day to celebrate something you did well and set a goal for growth.

⭐ Star: Something I’m proud of🌟 Wish: Something I’d like to improve
Write one thing you did well or a success you had recently.









Write one thing you’d like to work on or do differently next time.









Reflect on your Star to recognize your strengths, and use your Wish to plan for positive change tomorrow!

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