#172: Starters CAN be your classroom management superpower (here's how to do them right)

What's in this episode

If you can grab them in the first five minutes, everything feels easier. That's the magic of a great starter activity — and this episode is Claire's full Q&A on how to do them well. Starter tasks are one of Claire's absolute favourite things (her words). Done right, they communicate your expectations before you've said a single word, shift whatever energy students are walking in with, and create the kind of consistency and predictability that makes your classroom feel safe — for your students and for you. In this episode, Claire covers: Why starter activities are classroom management magic — not just a nice-to-have The guard dog analogy — why routines are "friends for the amygdala" and what that means for your most dysregulated students The most frequently asked questions about starter tasks: Do they have to relate to the lesson? Claire's honest answer What if students don't take them seriously? How to get buy-in by explaining the why What actually makes a quality starter? Claire's criteria — achievable for every student, no extra input from you, pen to paper, three to five minutes, no prior knowledge required Five starter activities you can try this week: Resources mentioned: 📦 [