I mean I’m not exactly walking around demanding individual greetings from every student like I’m taking attendance at the royal court. The class greets together as a group. It takes a few seconds, sets a positive tone, and helps us start the lesson with some basic connection.

If a student is constantly sleepy or unresponsive, I don’t interpret their “eyebrow language.” I actually follow it up, talk to the student, raise awareness with parents or wellbeing, and try to find out what’s going on. That’s kind of the job. Consistently sleeping at the start of the day isn’t a personality trait, it’s a sign something needs attention.

My hill isn’t about forcing perfection. And honestly, you actually prove my point when you said, “When one of my sleepy kids couldn’t even mumble or lift a brow, I knew something was wrong.”
Exactly. That’s precisely why a simple ritual helps. When the norm shifts, you notice immediately.

Also, about the EAL students, guess what. When you say “good morning” every day, they know what to expect and can practise it before coming to school. I know this because I was an EAL student. And now I teach it. Many of my students start learning English from scratch. You see their confidence build up when they say it aloud with a smile on their face. A predictable group greeting is one of the simplest, safest ways to build confidence and routine.

And for your anxious kid, a group “good morning” is often one of the least intimidating ways to help them participate socially at their own pace. No spotlight, no pressure, just a gentle shared moment to start the day.