I’ve had so many educators reach out lately sharing something really cool. Students they never thought would speak in front of the class… are starting to. Not just answering a question here or there, but actually stepping up. Leading a Quick Connect. Sharing during a circle. Raising their hand for the first time all year.
And if you’ve ever experienced that moment, you know. It’s a big deal.
What I love about the First Five is that it’s simple. It meets students right where they are. There’s no pressure to be perfect. No expectation that every student is going to jump in right away. It just creates a space where students can watch, listen, and slowly start to feel comfortable.
And that’s usually how it starts. They watch others participate. They see it’s safe. They see it’s normal. And over time, something shifts. Their confidence starts to build. Then one day, almost out of nowhere, they raise their hand. And you have that moment where you’re thinking… “Wait… was that them?” Those are the moments that stick with you.
My mentor in this work, and one of my favorite people, Denise “Circlemamma” Holliday, always says: “In this work, we move at the speed of trust.”
There’s so much truth in that. Some of our students walk into our classrooms with 10-foot walls up. They’re guarded. Quiet. Unsure. And when we commit to things like the First Five and Classroom Circles, we’re not knocking that wall down overnight. We’re slowly chipping away at it. Day by day. It might go from 10 feet to 8. Then 8 to 6. Then 6 to 4. And at some point, there’s enough space for connection to come through. That’s when things start to change.
So if you have a quiet student who hasn’t spoken yet… keep going. They’re watching. They’re listening. They’re taking it all in. And when they’re ready, you’ll know.
Educators, you are doing incredible work. Showing up every day, creating space, building trust… it matters more than you probably realize. We see you. We appreciate you. And those quiet students? They do too.
-Doug Overton