Soft Starts: How Winchester Elementary 2nd Graders Begin Their Day

At Winchester Elementary School, second graders are starting their day in a whole new way. Instead of traditional morning work, they’re participating in Soft Starts—a 15-minute period designed to help them transition into learning with creativity, collaboration, and calmness. Through activities like building, puzzles, and problem-solving games, students develop essential math skills without even realizing it. Teachers say the impact has been remarkable—students are more engaged, focused, and ready to learn. See how Soft Starts are shaping the future of morning routines in this second-grade pilot program.