Try this simple tweak to your morning routine to build student autonomy

Starting the school day doesn’t have to be chaotic or rushed.

In this article + podcast episode on Truth for Teachers, I’m sharing how soft starts are transforming classrooms by offering a calm, low-pressure beginning that allows students to ease into their day.

Soft starts accomplish more than just setting a calm tone—they’re a powerful tool for:

promoting social-emotional learning
giving kids the autonomy they need to feel in control of their learning
fostering self-regulation, self-direction, and self-management

I'm breaking down why this approach is beneficial (and super simple to implement!) for all age groups, from elementary to secondary students, and sharing practical ways to implement it in your classroom.

Soft starts don’t require a monumental shift in your daily routine, but provide a powerful opportunity to create a foundation of calm, focus, and connection that will ripple through every lesson.

If you want your students to learn how to gauge their own needs and choose activities at the beginning of class that help meet those needs so they’re prepared to learn, soft starts might be the perfect option.

Read or listen to the benefits, instructions, and ideas from teachers about how to work soft starts into your instructional day:

How to implement this idea in K-12 classrooms

And if you don't have time to check out the article, consider: is there a way you can tweak your existing morning routines to teach kids how to check in with themselves and assess what they need in that moment?

By starting class time with practice in self-regulation, self-awareness, and executive functioning, you're laying the foundation for all other learning that will happen throughout the day.

Students are often coming into our classrooms with a lot on their minds, and this simple offering of a moment to breathe, settle, and prepare their minds and bodies to engage can help.

Here's what's new on the podcast ...

I'm releasing new episodes every other Sunday in both audio and article form, so you can read or listen:

EP 332 • Time blocking for teachers: Align your priorities, energy, and tasks to create a sustainable schedule Learn how to use flexible strategies that protect your planning time and help you work with your energy levels, not against them.

EP 331 • Want to individualize learning without overwhelm? Try this self-paced approach (with Rob Barnett) Discover how the Modern Classrooms model empowers students through self-paced learning while keeping your workload sustainable and manageable.

EP 330 • Design a self‑running classroom that frees you to TEACH Learn how intentionally built routines and shared student roles can dramatically reduce behavioral friction and decision‑making fatigue.

EP 329 • How a daily binder routine teaches students the skills behind academic success (with Mitch Weathers) Discover how a consistent physical binder system helps students build time‑management, organization, and independent work habits that last.

EP 328 • The crumb story: following your inner compass when you can’t please everyone A simple airport story becomes a powerful reminder to stay true to your values—especially when trying to meet everyone’s expectations.

EP 327 • Screens, schools, and the future of childhood: A candid dialogue (with Jonathan Haidt) Explore the paradox of overprotecting kids offline while exposing them without guidance to unlimited online risks—and what it means for learning culture.

EP 326 • My top ways to use AI for scaffolds, supports, and differentiated tasks I'm sharing how I partner with AI tools to support students with customized scaffolding, while maintaining my own instructional voice.

EP 325 • How to find your voice and self‑advocate, even if you’re conflict‑avoidant (with Neelu Kaur) Learn gentle but powerful strategies for speaking up and asserting your needs effectively—even when conflict feels uncomfortable.

EP 324 • Five changes teachers want to see in professional development Direct from teacher feedback, this episode outlines what truly meaningful, respectful, and actionable PD should look and feel like.

EP 323 • Teacher leadership: growing your impact in–or beyond–the classroom (with Starr Sackstein) Whether you’re aiming for formal leadership or just increasing your classroom influence, this episode maps out how to extend your impact.

Read or listen to any of the recent podcast episodes