Goal #25 for Selly Terrell’s #30goals challenge is to develop ways to get to know your students. There are many different ways to get to know your students so I’ll only mention of few of my favorites.
- Students can write books about themselves. This can either be done traditionally with paper, pencils, markers, and crayons, or you can allow your student to use a variety of software programs to create the cover and pages of their books.
- Students can create a timeline using significant events in their life. This can either be done on paper or using a timelining software.
- Ask students to bring in 3-5 items that represent themselves during the first week of school. Have the students place the items in a brown paper bag. Then they can reveal the items and tell a little about each item.
- I used to have a grid (sort of like a bingo grid) that had different characteristics in each box. Each box was worth a different number of points. Students then had to go around the class, mingle with their classmates, and find people that possessed those characteristics. At the end of the alloted time period, the students would add up their points and the person with the most would win the “game.” We always did this on the first day of school in order to get to know one another, and I would usually join the fun.
- Allow students to interview each other and video the interviews. Then you can watch the interviews as a class. Be sure to have a student interview you as well!
- Another variation on the video is to have a “confessional” set up in a closet or other secluded place. Allow the students to tell about themselvesin their first “confessional.” If you felt like they needed more direction, you could provide them with a list of questions that they should answer during the “confession.” As the year progresses, leave the “confessional” set up and allow the students to use it to reflect on their learning. (Note: You will need to set up specific guidelines and rules for the “confessional.” For example, if your “confessional” is set up in a closet, you might only allow one student at a time in the “confessional” and never allow the door to be closed completely.)
Just remember that for all of the above activities, you should also do one for yourself and share. Your students want to get to know you as well! It’s important for them to see you as more than just a teacher.
To close, I’ll leave you with this video from my son, Ryley. If you were Ry’s teacher, what would you learn about him?