How it works
A student pulls one of the twenty-four cards at random and reads it aloud, or hands it to you.
Let the conversation go wherever the prompt takes it. There’s no right answer and no need to rush on, and if a card doesn’t fit that day, they can skip it and pick again.
One card is enough for a quick check-in, or you can work through several if you have time for a longer conversation.
Think about where you have the conversation. A corner of your own form room at the end of the day usually works better than an office. Leave the door open, and make sure nobody is close enough to hear. Ten minutes is plenty of time. If something comes up that is bigger than a check-in, pass it to your designated safeguarding lead the same day. For more help with check-ins, The Quiet Word covers how to start, what to do with a silence and when to pass something on.
A look inside
Get the activity
Cut the deck apart once and keep it wherever your check-ins tend to happen: a desk drawer, a folder, a coat pocket. The same set lasts all year.
Teacher resource pack
A one-page teacher guide, plus the full set of twenty-four printable Conversation Starter cards.
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