Starting Strong: September Routines for Connection, Community, and Calm

Teach Outdoors

September is a month of beginnings—new classrooms, new routines, and new opportunities to build relationships. In this episode, I sit down with Elsa Medina and Alisa Paul to talk about slowing down at the start of the school year and putting community first.

Together, they share practical routines and activities—like creating names with loose natural materials, morning greetings, and reflection circles—that help students feel safe, calm, and connected. The conversation explores:

• Why social-emotional learning comes before curriculum
• How circles and rituals support regulation and belonging
• Rights and responsibilities as a foundation for classroom agreements
• The Circle of Courage framework for independence, generosity, and belonging
• Ways to nurture intrinsic motivation instead of relying on extrinsic rewards

We also dive into the power of outdoor spaces in September—whether it’s exploring the garden classroom, noticing growth as a metaphor for learning, or playing games like Eagle Eye and Forest Perfume.

Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned one, this episode offers fresh ideas for creating routines that foster autonomy, community, and joy right from the start of the school year.