09/07/2026
I once completed an activity during a PLC that made me realize something surprising:
I knew my students better than anyone else did.
Not just their test scores, language levels, or academic needs.
I knew what interested them, what made them laugh, what they cared about, and what could get even my most reluctant students talking.
A big reason was our daily bellringer routine.
For five minutes, students responded to questions that gave them something they genuinely wanted to talk and write about. Their answers helped me understand them—and helped them feel understood.
It looked like a simple writing warm-up.
But it was also relationship-building, oral-language practice, writing practice, classroom community, and often a bridge into the rest of our lesson.
I’m currently turning this routine into a ready-to-use resource for upper elementary and middle school teachers.
Follow Unearthed Learning Roots to see more of the routine and be among the first to know when it’s ready.
What is one small classroom routine that helped you really know your students?
