Surprisingly Simple Ways To Support Belonging and Attendance Series
Part 2: The First Step Toward Better Attendance Might Be Hello
There are so many things we could be doing during those few minutes before students enter our doors.
There's always an email we could be reading. Supplies we could be setting out. Grades to enter.
We get it. There is always something.
But when we choose connection as that something, something powerful can happen.
The Oregon Attendance Cohort identifies positive greetings at the door as one simple, zero-cost strategy schools can use to support attendance.
Research also shows that positive greetings can contribute to a stronger sense of belonging and engagement for our students.
And when we really think about it, it makes sense.
If we want students to come to school, then they have to experience school as a place where they are noticed, both when they're present and when they're absent.
It turns out one of the simplest ways we can communicate that is through Intentional Greetings & Goodbyes.
We know that people remember the first and last things we say more than any other part of an interaction.
So let's take those moments and make them count.
Say hello.
Greet them by name.
Ask how they're doing.
Give them a smile, a fist bump, or just a quick connection.
It doesn't need to be a big thing.
Sometimes it's just, "I'm so glad you're here."
We haven't ever met an educator who has extra time.
Thankfully, Intentional Greetings & Goodbyes doesn't require much of us at all.
It's not a new program, a new lesson, or more preparation.
It just asks us to be intentional with a few moments we already have.
And just as intentionally as we welcome them in, we can send them out.
That first interaction matters, and so does the last one.
Take a few moments to say goodbye.
Let them know we'll see them tomorrow.
Notice something they did.
Remind them what they have to be proud of.
"You worked really hard today."
"Thanks for making me laugh."
"I'm glad you were here."
We'll see you tomorrow.
Those four words communicate something important, too.
We expect you back.
We want you here.
That's a powerful message to send in four words.
Next week, we’ll share another simple way to Care Out Loud: Putting Our Care in Writing.
Want to go deeper?
We recently hosted our training Escape the Behavior Trap, where we break down why traditional responses don’t work - and what to do instead.