The first few weeks of school can feel pretty good. Kids are polite, routines are fresh, and everyone is still figuring each other out.
Then…the honeymoon ends.
If behaviors are starting to pop up, don’t panic. It doesn’t mean your year is headed in the wrong direction. It means the newness is wearing off—and your real classroom culture is beginning to take shape.
In this episode, I’m talking about what happens when that early-school-year calm starts to disappear and how to figure out what your students need next. We’ll look at three important areas—connection, regulation, and engagement—and how each one can affect what you’re seeing in your classroom.
I’ll also walk you through my simple Classroom Tripod Check-In so you can identify which area needs attention and take one proactive step before behaviors start to tip.
If you’re thinking, “Things were going so well. What happened?” this episode will help you stop seeing those early behavior changes as a warning sign—and start seeing them as useful information.
You’ll leave with a simple way to identify where to focus your energy without trying to fix everything at once.
~Elizabeth
Mentioned in This Episode:
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The reminder that the first few weeks can feel deceptively smooth really resonates—fresh routines and polite behavior don’t always last once students settle in. I appreciate the focus on responding early when behavior starts slipping instead of waiting for small issues to become bigger patterns.
YES! Being proactive it essential to helping with student behaviors. I’m glad this post and podcast was helpful.
The reminder that the “back-to-school honeymoon” naturally fades is so helpful—those early polite weeks can make later behavior shifts feel unexpected. Rebuilding routines and addressing small slips before they snowball seems like a practical way to reset expectations.
I’m glad this is helpful. Sometimes these reminders are all we need to keep going! Where do you teach?
The reminder that the “back-to-school honeymoon” fades as routines lose their novelty really resonates. I appreciate the focus on responding to slipping behavior by re-establishing expectations and consistency rather than treating it as a surprise or failure.
The reminder that the early-school “honeymoon” can fade once routines lose their novelty really resonates. I especially appreciate the focus on responding to slipping behavior by reestablishing structure and connection rather than treating it as a sudden character problem.