How can you support your students if you don’t know what they need? How can you offer relevance to the learning, if you do not know what interests them? How can you motivate students, if you don’t know their hopes and goals?
Getting to know your students provides opportunities to improve your teaching practice and to provide some connection building with your students.
In your own classroom, you can begin the year off with drama games, find the person who— interactive games, have student fill out getting to know you forms etc. As a substitute teacher, I play “2 truths and 1 lie about your substitute” upon entry to every new classroom. Students want to know you, too! That game, played at any age, always opens up conversation and I learn a little from the student feedback about each student.
One example of getting to know your students is a form that can easily be adapted to any age and filled out:
| I learn something better when I create a rhyme or sing a song about it. 1 2 3 | I don’t like sitting for long: 1 2 3 | I learn best when I’m by myself. 1 2 3 |
I learn something better when I see pictures. 1 2 3 | I learn best in a group: 1 2 3 | I don’t like sitting for long: 1 2 3 |
| My favourite activity is: | One of my strengths or a thing I do well is: | One of my stretches, or something I am still learning to do is: |
| I like teacher that: | It is not helpful when teachers do : | Some things I want to get better or learn are: |
| I want you to know: |
What are your best getting to know you games/ forms/activities?
