Abbott Elementary “Check-Ins” Recap: Barbara's Lesson Backfires

Another week, another round of chaos at Abbott Elementary, where keeping the school running smoothly is apparently too much to ask. In Season 6, Episode 2, “Check-Ins,” the teachers are juggling everything from personal boundaries and classroom disagreements to the growing pains of balancing multiple responsibilities. There's plenty of humor to go around, but this week's episode also reminds us that teaching isn't just about lesson plans. Sometimes, it's about knowing when to step in, when to let go, and when to mind your business.

Melissa is watching her stories in the teachers’ lounge, and the others have opinions, that is until they get pulled into the drama on General Hospital themselves. Suddenly, everybody is invested. So much for judging Melissa.

Janine, meanwhile, is learning that her former student Courtney has outgrown her. She wants to maintain their connection, but Courtney has other things going on. When Janine learns that Courtney lied about being part of the podcast club, she calls her into the classroom. Courtney claims she has homework to catch up on, but Janine later catches her leaving before the school day is over.

With Gregory too busy to talk, Janine turns to Ava. Ava initially tries to brush her off, but once Janine mentions Courtney, she offers some sound advice. Every so often, Ava reminds us that she can be helpful when she wants to be.

Barbara has a delicate situation of her own. One of her students has alopecia, and his classmates have questions. She wants to keep their curiosity from hurting his feelings, but his parents do not want her discussing the condition. That leaves Barb trying to figure out how to address the questions while respecting their wishes.

She talks to Melissa about the situation, then seeks advice from Mr. Johnson. His advice is horrible. Some conversations really should have stayed in the teachers’ lounge. Eventually, Barbara tapes pictures of bald celebrities to the chalkboard and gives her class a speech. Hold that thought, because this lesson comes back around.

Jacob and Melissa are also at odds over classroom rules. Melissa lets her students chew gum, and Jacob is tired of dealing with the problems that creates in his class. Their disagreement follows them to dinner, where they argue before finally reaching an agreement. Even a gum policy can become a whole production at Abbott.

Then there is Gregory, who is conducting check-ins with teachers from his classroom while juggling teaching which has added stress to his vice principal duties. Ava handed him the teacher check-ins because she does not want to do them. Naturally, she is over there praying for his downfall.

There is a method to Ava’s madness, though. She wants Gregory to realize that he needs a substitute and cannot keep doing both jobs. She predicts that he will crack by stage three, and sure enough, he does. Ava knows exactly how this is going to play out, and Gregory walks right into it. By the end of the episode, a new substitute has been hired to take over his class.

This is a good episode that leans more into heartfelt moments than big laughs. Janine navigating Courtney's issues at home and Barbara trying to protect a student’s feelings give the episode some heart.

And then a student shows up with his head shaved bald, and his parents want a word with Barbara. Well, Barb, that lesson certainly made an impression. She handles it with class as only Barb can.

At the end of the day, “Check-Ins” proves that Abbott Elementary doesn't need nonstop jokes to deliver a solid episode. Between Janine learning to give Courtney space, Gregory realizing he can't do everything himself, and Barbara discovering that even the best intentions can have unexpected consequences, there's a little something for everyone. The laughs might take a backseat this week, but the heart is still very much there. And if we've learned anything, it's that Ava might actually know what she's doing. Just don't tell her we said that.

What did you think?

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