Emoji Drop
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Samantha Behne
Teachers are always looking for ways to build and strengthen relationships with their students. One way to do this is to be in tune with their emotions. Emotions can have a positive or negative impact on one’s attention, motivation, learning strategies, and ability to self-regulate.
This year I started something in my second-grade classroom that we call Emoji Drop. I took a Connect Four game and altered the chips to have six of them represent emotions. The others are numbered 1–30. My students each have a number assigned to them we use for lining up, lockers, book boxes, and more. When they come in each morning, they find the chip that has their number and drop it in the column under the emoji that represents how they are feeling that day. I do have two columns with a smiley face because I find that is the most used one. And, if the column they want is full, they set it on the counter under the emoji they wish to choose.
I have found this is a great way to get an understanding of student emotions for the day, and it also helps them to do a self-check before starting their school day. Often when a person is aware of their emotions, they are more likely to control them, and I have found that to be true with my young learners.
