Inspect progress
Help students compare the sprint plan to what is actually happening.
Guide
Routine #3 — Check-In Guide
A practical guide for helping students inspect progress, surface roadblocks, ask for support, and adjust their work during a Learning Sprint.
Best for
- Classroom
- Learning Sprints
- Progress Checks
- Student Ownership
- Self-Advocacy
Use During
- Check-In
- Plan
- Review
What it helps with
Surface roadblocks early
Make confusion, stuck points, and support needs visible before they become bigger problems.
Adjust the next move
Help students revise tasks, ask for help, and keep the sprint moving with shared clarity.
Preview the guide
When to use it
- During a Learning Sprint, not only at the end.
- When students or teams need a quick progress check.
- When work is drifting, stalled, or unclear.
- When students need support, feedback, or a next step.
- Before Review so teams have time to adjust before sharing work.
How it works
Return to the sprint plan.
Start with the goals, tasks, and commitments students already made.
Inspect current progress.
Ask what is done, what is in progress, and what has changed.
Surface roadblocks and support needs.
Name what is confusing, blocked, missing, or likely to need help.
Adjust the plan.
Decide what should change, what should move, and what support is needed next.
Capture the next move.
Update the Learning Canvas, backlog, or team board so the next action is visible.
Why the Check-In routine works
Check-Ins keep a sprint from drifting. Instead of waiting until the end to discover confusion or unfinished work, students pause briefly to inspect progress and adjust while there is still time to act. The routine builds accountability without turning the teacher into the project manager. Students learn to name progress, ask for help, adapt their plan, and support one another before small problems become bigger ones.
Skills & Alignment
This resource supports communication, self-management, collaboration, reflection, and adaptive problem solving. These are suggested connections, not a formal standards alignment.
IB Learner Profile
- Communicators
- Thinkers
- Reflective
- Caring
IB Approaches to Learning
- Communication skills
- Self-management skills
- Social skills
- Thinking skills
21st Century Skills
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Self-direction
- Critical thinking
- Adaptability
Inquiry Practices
- Progress monitoring
- Questioning
- Reflection
- Revision
- Evidence-informed improvement
What's included
- A downloadable Check-In routine guide with prompts and facilitation support for helping students inspect progress and adjust during a Learning Sprint.
Related resources
Ready to check progress sooner?
Download the free Check-In guide and help students make progress, roadblocks, and next steps visible during the sprint.
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