Welcome Wagon Warm-Up

Welcome new adventurers! Let's get started by thinking about our new journey.

1. One thing I'm looking forward to:

2. One question I have about our school/class:

My New Adventure Discussion Guide

This guide will help us talk about our experiences as new students. Remember, everyone's journey is unique, and it's okay to share what's on your mind.

Part 1: Sharing Our Feelings (15 minutes)

• "When you think about being new, what are some feelings that come up?" (e.g., excited, nervous, curious, shy, overwhelmed)
• "Has anyone ever felt a little lost or unsure of where to go? How did that feel?"
• "What's one good thing that has happened to you since starting here?"

Part 2: Navigating Challenges (15 minutes)

• "What are some common challenges new students might face?" (e.g., making friends, finding classes, understanding routines, asking for help)
• "What are some ways we can help ourselves or other new students when we see them struggling with these challenges?"
• "Who are some people in the school you can go to if you need help or have a question?"

Part 3: Strategies for Success (10 minutes)

• "What are some strategies you've tried that have helped you feel more comfortable or make new friends?"
• "How can we be good classmates and friends to new students?"
• "What's one thing you can do this week to make your new adventure even better?"

My Check-In Compass Journal

Welcome! This journal is a space for you to share how you're doing, what you need, and what you're excited about. There are no right or wrong answers, just your thoughts and feelings.

1. How am I feeling today?

Think about what's going on inside you right now. You can use words, drawings, or even just colors to show how you feel.

2. What's on my mind?

Is there anything specific you've been thinking about? Good things, challenging things, or anything in between.

3. What do I need right now?

Do you need help with something? A quiet space? To talk? To learn something new? Think about what would make you feel more supported.

4. What am I looking forward to?

What are you excited about this week, this month, or in school?

5. Anything else I want to share?

This is your space. Feel free to add anything else that feels important to you right now.

Teacher Check-In Script: My Check-In Compass

Objective: To create a supportive and open environment for a new student to share their feelings, needs, and goals using the My Check-In Compass Journal.

Materials: My Check-In Compass Journal

Introduction (5 minutes)

"Hi [Student's Name]! Thanks for joining me today. I'm really glad you're here. We're going to take some time to just check in and see how you're doing, especially as you're new to our school/class. I have this special journal called the My Check-In Compass Journal that we can use together to guide our conversation."

"This is a safe space for you to share anything you want to. There's no pressure to say anything you don't feel comfortable with, and there are no right or wrong answers. My goal is just to listen and understand how I can best support you."

• Hand the student the My Check-In Compass Journal.

Guiding Through the Journal (15-20 minutes)

"Let's look at the first section together: 'How am I feeling today?' Sometimes it's easy to name our feelings, and sometimes it's harder. You can write down words, draw a picture, or even just choose a color that represents how you feel. Take your time with this."

• Allow time for the student to respond. Encourage elaboration if they seem comfortable.
• Active Listening Prompt: "It sounds like you're feeling [feeling]. Can you tell me a bit more about that?"

"Next, we have: 'What's on my mind?' This could be anything you've been thinking about, whether it's something exciting, something challenging, or just something you keep coming back to."

• Allow time for the student to respond.
• Active Listening Prompt: "That's an interesting thought. What makes you think about [topic]?"

"Now, let's look at: 'What do I need right now?' This is a really important one. When we know what we need, we can find ways to get it. Do you need help with a certain subject? A quiet place to work sometimes? Someone to talk to?"

• Allow time for the student to respond.
• Active Listening Prompt: "So, if I understand correctly, you're looking for [need]. How do you think we could make that happen?"

"Moving on to a more positive note: 'What am I looking forward to?' What makes you excited about being here, or about something coming up soon?"

• Allow time for the student to respond.
• Active Listening Prompt: "That sounds wonderful! What about [exciting thing] makes you feel excited?"

"Finally, there's a space for 'Anything else I want to share?' Is there anything we haven't talked about yet that feels important for me to know?"

• Allow time for the student to respond.
• Active Listening Prompt: "Thank you for sharing that with me. It's helpful to know."

Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

"Thank you so much for taking the time to share with me today, [Student's Name]. I really appreciate your honesty and openness. This journal is yours to keep, and you can always add to it if you want to. We can use it again in the future if you find it helpful."

"Just knowing these things helps me understand you better and how I can best support you. Remember, I'm here for you, and we can always talk more if you need to. Do you have any questions for me right now?"

• Address any student questions.
• Reiterate support and availability.