Entrance Check In Buttons

Entrance check in buttons:

These buttons have been designed to be used as a morning check in for children. This helps children take ownership of their emotions and choose the appropriate strategies if needed. This is also an effective way for teachers to discreetly acknowledge how their class is feeling as they come into school. Emotions are not always apparent by their body language. Certain emotions may require some additional support from the adults to regulate.

This resource comes in 3 variations. We have chosen the same colours as the body mapping cards so that children are building upon and using the same understanding across the resources but in different situations.

The variations include:
6 blank, coloured buttons
6 coloured buttons with matching emotion vocabulary
6 coloured buttons with matching emotion faces

Lisa’s set up suggestions:

You could put them on the door so it’s there when the children come through the door each morning. I stand by the classroom door already so I can greet the children in Makaton. I will now ask the children after they’ve signed to tap the button to show how they’re feeling that morning. You could take a mental note and be making actions in your head to address particular check ins later rather than in front of everyone at that moment. I suggest you establish a signal when introducing the daily check in system for the first time. This signal will let the child know that you’ve acknowledged their emotions and you’ll talk about it when appropriate.

You can also print the entire check in collection and stack each colour button from each set to make a visual learning resource. Children will learn to associate and use the colours, vocabulary and visuals.

Olivia’s set up suggestions:

For KS1 teachers, I would suggest using the emotion faced versions of the check in buttons rather than the words to help the child visual and understand the colour associations. Or if you prefer the button with the emotion words, you can add sound buttons to help children read the words.

I would model these emotions during my literacy lessons when reading a story that features a character who goes through changes in emotion. I will stick a set of the entrance check in buttons on my whiteboard so I can point to them or stick relevant resources around them. “I can tell that our character, Erin has gone from being excited to being quite blue and worried.” This will help show children that experiencing a range of emotions is OK and common!

Each download comes with a how-to-use guide and includes FAQs relevant to each resource.

For more ideas and related content, please follow:
@keystagecatchup
@yearthreeandme - Lisa
@primaryteachuk - Olivia

Please note: this resource and all hand-drawn illustrations are covered by the non-derivative license which means you may only use the content as it appears and in full (you cannot partially use it, or change it).