During Play-Based Centers, teachers might use the Ch.E.C.K.-in method during guided play, or on occasion as an approach to peer conflicts.  Ch.E.C.K.-in stands for: Challenge, Encourage & Engage, Create Connections, & Keep Listening.  PBC teachers can use one or more of these approaches when interacting with their students.  I believe that the most important of these is to Keep Listening.  Here is a little story to help better explain this method: 

Once there were two neighbors who shared a lemon tree growing on the border of their properties.  One morning, the neighbors found themselves both reaching for the last lemon on that tree. Unfortunately, what began as neighborly greetings quickly escalated into a shouting match about who should get the last lemon.  A wise and respected neighbor heard the commotion and joined them to try to mediate. The wise neighbor calmly used the Ch.E.C.K. in method. First, he Challenged them- was there another approach to solving this conflict rather than shouting at one another?  The neighbors reluctantly agreed it would be fair to share the lemon by cutting it in half. Next, the wise neighbor Encouraged their willingness to compromise and to take into account the other’s feelings and perspective.  Next, the wise neighbor helped them make Connections to one another by helping them recall the ways that they had always been good friends in the past and noted that their positive relationship shouldn’t end on account of such a small thing.  They agreed and shook hands. Finally, he Kept Listening to them, which surprisingly revealed that one neighbor wanted only the lemon zest to make a lemon pepper steak rub, and the other neighbor wanted only the lemon juice to make blueberry-lemon muffins.  Laughing together, the neighbors agreed to share the lemon in such a way that each got what was wanted. That night, they celebrated their friendship with a delicious steak dinner and muffins for dessert.  The wise neighbor joined them having made, with the leftover rind, a delicious sangria. The End!

P.S. Don’t actually bring sangria to your classroom.  That’s generally frowned upon. And, don’t forget- play on my friends!