Surviving the busy season with M.I.
This time of year can feel like the perfect storm in the classroom. The holidays are coming, schedules get messy, behaviors spike, and the collective energy level rises about ten notches. Kids feel it. We feel it. And sometimes it feels like everyone is just trying to stay afloat until break.
This is exactly when Motivational Interviewing (MI) can become one of the most grounding tools in your teacher toolkit.
MI isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about shifting how we communicate so our interactions feel calmer, clearer, and more collaborative- especially when everything around us feels a bit chaotic. Here are a few simple ways to use MI during this stretch of the school year:
Start with connection instead of correction.
When behaviors spike, our instinct is often to redirect quickly just to keep things moving. But taking 10 seconds to connect first (“Looks like it’s been a tough morning-what’s going on?”) sets a completely different tone. Kids respond better when they feel seen, especially during high-stress times.
Try:
“You seem really excited today- what’s on your mind?”
“It looks like something was frustrating for you. Tell me about it.”
Use reflections to soothe dysregulated moments.
Reflections help students feel understood without escalating the situation. Sometimes naming what they’re experiencing (“You’re feeling overwhelmed with all the noise in here”) is enough to bring the intensity down. Reflections don’t solve the problem- but they open the door to problem-solving.
Offer small, meaningful choices.
Choice creates autonomy, and autonomy creates calm. This time of year, kids are overstimulated and feel like a lot is out of their control. Even small choices help them feel anchored.
Try:
“Do you want to finish this at your desk or the table?”
“Would you like to take a quiet break first or jump back in?”
Celebrate effort and internal motivation.
Students are often tired right now- and so are we. Pointing out what they are doing well strengthens their internal motivation and helps offset the overwhelm. These moments build momentum and remind kids of their own strengths when stress is high.
Try:
“You took a deep breath before you answered- that showed a lot of control.”
“You kept trying even though it was tricky. That says a lot about you.”
Slow down the conversations.
MI invites us to ask fewer questions and use more listening, reflecting, and simple, calm prompts. During a busy, overwhelming season, slowing down even slightly can help students regulate- and it helps you regulate too. Not everything needs a big conversation. Sometimes one thoughtful question is enough.
Try:
“What feels most important for you right now?”
“What would help you feel successful in the next 5 minutes?”
This season is full- full of excitement, full of emotion, full of challenges, and full of opportunity. Using Motivational Interviewing is not about being perfect; it’s about being present. It’s about meeting students where they are, giving them space to feel big feelings, and guiding them toward choices that feel manageable and empowering.
And don’t forget, you deserve the same compassion you give your students. A calm moment, a deep breath, or a small choice might support you just as much as it supports them.
