Adapted from Tell Me More In a Jar^®

Building relationships with students can start with short, meaningful conversations. The benefit of student mental health check-ins? Author and school counselor Stephanie Filio says, “SEL check-ins tell our students a lot about how we value them.” The conversation starters below can help you strengthen your relationships with your students and check in about their social and emotional needs.

1. What or who helps you feel safe at school?

2. What is your mood like today?

3. What do you notice about your body? Is it tired? Energetic? Somewhere in between?

4. What is one thing you currently feel mad, sad, or frustrated about? What might help you feel better about it?

5. If your day (week/year) were a book, what would the title be? What would the cover look like?

6. What’s something you’ve felt worried or anxious about this week/month? What could you do to cope with your worry?

7. Have you felt in charge of your thoughts, emotions, and actions lately? If not, what might help you feel less out of control?

8. Check in with your feelings. What emotion do you feel right now?

9. How did you feel when you woke up this morning? How do you feel now?

10. What is one thing you’d like to accomplish tomorrow (next week/next year)?

11. What is one thing you’ve done today that you want to do again tomorrow?

12. If you could rewind your day (week/month), what would you do differently?

13. What challenged you today?

For more questions and prompts to kick-start meaningful conversations, check out Tell Me More In a Jar^®.

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