Starting the Year with Heart: Centering SEL in the Classroom
Every year, we step into our classrooms with a mix of excitement and anticipation — eager to meet our new students or welcome familiar faces. We look forward to their reactions as they notice how we’ve spruced up the space. At the same time, many of us also carry a bit of worry: memories of last year’s fatigue, the challenge of meeting endless deadlines, and the weight of classroom behaviors that left us feeling drained.
For some educators, the return to school even stirs up uncomfortable reminders — of moments when we raised our voices more than we’d like, or when we felt ourselves losing patience, even though our intention was to lead with care. These emotions aren’t uncommon. In fact, they’re often the quiet reality of dedicated teachers walking back into their classrooms each fall.
But alongside these feelings, there is also hope — the hope of a new year, a fresh start, and a chance to do things differently. If you’ve promised yourself to create more calm, compassion, and connection in your classroom this year, here are five practical ways to get started:
1. Start with Joy & Grounding
The first few minutes of the day often set the tone for everything that follows. Instead of diving straight into academics, begin with an activity that grounds and uplifts your classroom community. Invite your students to dance, sing, play rhythms on simple instruments, or even sit together in a circle to share something light and joyful. These rituals give children a sense of belonging and allow them to release the jitters they carry from home or the bus ride. Joy and grounding at the start can prevent disruptive behaviors later on.
2. Normalize Emotional Check-Ins (Throughout the Day)
Children need regular opportunities to name and share their feelings. Whole-group check-ins — like a feelings chart or a quick “thumbs up/sideways/down” round — help students recognize that everyone has emotions. Equally important are individual check-ins, where you connect one-on-one, even for a brief moment, to ask how a child is really doing.
Consider adding SEL journals to your classroom routine, even in early education. For younger students, this might mean drawing faces, using colors, or scribbling to represent how they feel. Older children can write words or short reflections. Journals give students a private and creative outlet for expressing emotions, and when used daily, they create a valuable record of growth over time. Embedding these check-ins — whether in journals, circles, or quick chats — throughout the day builds a culture where emotions are safe to acknowledge, express, and reflect on.
3. Model First, Guide Second
Students notice what we do far more than what we say. When you model taking a deep breath before responding to frustration, pausing to listen when someone speaks, or showing kindness in small interactions, you demonstrate powerful SEL skills in action. Once students see it in you, they are much more likely to follow. Transitions — like moving from recess back into the classroom — are the perfect moments to pause, model, and then guide students to practice calming strategies, kind communication, or collaborative routines.
4. Build a Shared Cause
Children thrive when they feel part of something bigger than themselves. Early in the year, discover what excites your students and turn it into a class project that requires teamwork, patience, and creativity. It could be caring for a class pet, starting a kindness jar, organizing a donation drive, or writing letters to children in hospitals. A shared cause gives students common purpose and reduces power struggles because energy is directed toward something meaningful. It also builds empathy and shows students that their actions can positively impact others.
5. Focus on the Environment, Not Control
Instead of pouring energy into trying to control student behavior, shift your focus to shaping the environment. Think about routines, transitions, and classroom setup. Is there a cozy corner where children can regroup when they’re overwhelmed? Are directions clear and consistent so children know what to expect? Does the classroom rhythm allow space for movement and quiet? When the environment is structured to support children’s needs, behaviors naturally align. Control becomes less about authority and more about creating conditions where everyone can succeed.
This year, let’s give ourselves permission to embrace SEL not as “another thing to do,” but as the foundation for all learning, woven intentionally into the entire day. Morning rituals create safety, mid-day check-ins keep children regulated and tuned into their bodies, and closing reflections help them leave calmer than they arrived. When we prioritize connection, joy, and compassion, we not only reduce our own stress but also create the kind of classroom where children feel safe, respected, and ready to grow in all areas of their lives.