A warm welcome sets the tone for every student to feel seen, heard and known, creating a positive and safe learning environment.

This Warm Welcome Kit includes several brief classroom connection activities designed to help you start every day, or class section, with intentional relational connection. The goal of starting each day with a warm welcome is to cultivate and maintain a safe learning environment that proactively strengthens peer to peer relationships so that all students feel safe, seen, heard and ready to learn. 

Browse through this collection of Warm Welcomes and choose several that will work for your class. While doing so keep in mind the following: 

TIME | Activities range from 2-15 minutes. 

VULNERABILITY LEVEL | As your class gets to know each other, vulnerability will increase. At the beginning of the year (low vulnerability) consider allowing students to choose partners for sharing. As relationships are strengthened (high vulnerability), structure activities in a way that students are interacting with peers they may not know as well. 

ENERGY LEVELS | Choose a calming activity when students are high energy or a more active warm welcome when students are feeling sluggish. 

ROUTINE TO RITUAL | Choose (or create) one or two warm welcome activities that you engage in at least once weekly, (i.e. Monday Mindsets). Repetition creates an inclusive class ritual that further deepens peer to peer connection and belonging. 

Early Education

 IMPLEMENTATION TIPS

• Start Small: Choose one Warm Welcome activity that your students would enjoy. Observe how your students engage in the activity and adjust as needed.

• Schedule It: Commit to a time each day or week when you can incorporate a Warm Welcome. A scheduled time will help you be more consistent, allow students to know what to expect, and give them something to look forward to.

• Mix It Up: Use different Warm Welcome activities to keep students engaged. Try a calming activity when students need to slow down. Use an energizing activity in the afternoon slump. Take notice of which activities your students prefer.

• Class Favorites: Write down your students' favorite Warm Welcome activities on popsicle sticks, put them in a jar, and let one student pick the activity for the day.

KINDERGARTEN-8TH GRADE

IMPLEMENTATION TIPS

• Start Small: Choose one Warm Welcome activity that your students would enjoy. Observe how your students engage in the activity and adjust as needed.

• Schedule It: Commit to a time each day or week when you can incorporate a Warm Welcome. A scheduled time will help you be more consistent, allow students to know what to expect, and give them something to look forward to.

• Mix It Up: Use different Warm Welcome activities to keep students engaged. Try a calming activity when students need to slow down. Use an energizing activity in the afternoon slump. Take notice of which activities your students prefer.

• Class Favorites: Write down your students' favorite Warm Welcome activities on popsicle sticks, put them in a jar, and let one student pick the activity for the day.

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