The First Five has always been about more than filling the first five minutes of class.
Every question, quote, video, Brain Game, Quick Connect, and activity is intentionally designed to help students practice important character traits and skills while building stronger classroom connections.
Those traits and skills have always been embedded in the First Five. This year, we are making them easier to see.
A character trait or skill is now listed beneath every component in each daily edition, giving you a clearer picture of what students are practicing and what we hope they take away from the activity.
See the Purpose Behind Every Activity
Five minutes of conversation, reflection, movement, or play can have a meaningful impact on your students.
By displaying the character traits and skills connected to each component, we hope to help you see the purpose behind those moments and use the First Five more intentionally.
You will be able to quickly identify when students are practicing skills and traits such as communication, empathy, perseverance, creativity, self-awareness, teamwork, and more.
Nothing extra has been added to your plate. We are simply making the learning that was already built into each activity more visible.
Show Why These Five Minutes Matter
The listed traits and skills can also help you explain the value of the First Five to principals, administrators, and others who visit your classroom.
During a walkthrough, those five minutes may look like a conversation, a game, or a quick moment of connection. Now, you can point directly to the character trait or skill your students are actively practicing.
It is a simple way to show that the First Five is not just a fun start to the day. It is purposeful time spent strengthening classroom relationships, building character, and practicing skills students can carry into the rest of the school day.
More Intention for Us, Too
Listing these traits and skills also holds our team accountable.
It allows us to be even more intentional as we create each First Five component and consider what students may learn, practice, or take away from it.
The next time you open the First Five, take a look beneath each activity. You may be surprised by just how much your students are practicing during those first five minutes.
Looking for More Ways to Build Character and Connection?
Explore First Five Plus for even more ready-to-use activities for morning meetings, advisory, classroom discussions, and meaningful connection throughout the school day.
Next week, we will explore the prompting questions included with every Quote and Video in the Primary and Secondary editions.
-Edtomorrow Team