Back to School in Secondary

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At the beginning of the year, I don't know my students, and they don't know me. And with 180+ students over the course of the day, it takes a long time. So a couple of years after I started teaching, I devised a cheat sheet so to speak for my students and I to get to know each other. 

 On the first or second day of school, I give students a self-reflection task to help get to know them and think about what makes them tick. Later I do some more formal goal setting, and I also use a fun game (all you need is post-it notes - free here).



Students use this reflection to generate an essential list about themselves for me. 

  Why?  

  • Because it is very important for me to know that sometimes students get bored in math and seem like they aren't paying attention because they already understand it.
  • Because it's easier to connect with them when I can ask them how rock climbing is going. 
  • Because it's important to know that they might be too shy to raise their hand.

The second part of the reflection is an art project that becomes part of a class bulletin board for everyone to learn about each other. I participate, too, so that my students can learn essential things about me. 















I love, love starting the year off this way because:
  1. My students and I connect faster, and they know I care to get to know them as people which makes everything in my class run more smoothly.
  2. I can greet students by asking them questions related to the cheat sheet which also helps me learn names faster. (Important for me because I am truly terrible at names)
  3. My students start to get to know each other faster through our community project.
I also play Guess Who? (Best first day of school I have had or witnessed) and do Wanted posters.  By the end of that first week, we know each other pretty well for only having spent a few hours with each other, at least enough to have a pretty respectful community.  And as to content?  We are doing a little of both this first week and homework includes a mix of get to know each other preparation and assessment of student skills so that I can get everyone started at the right place.


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12 comments

  1. Amy MezniAugust 9, 2015 at 5:21 AM

    This is a great idea! It probably helps you to begin a bond with your students right off, because you are listening to them. Building those bonds can be so tricky in middle school.

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  2. DocRunningAugust 9, 2015 at 5:29 AM

    Absolutely, Amy! I feel like getting to know the students is so important to them knowing that I love them and that when I ask them to do the "yucky" stuff, it is because I know they need it. The better the community that gets built I think the better the class is. It's so important in secondary in particular.

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  3. Teaching AutismAugust 9, 2015 at 6:02 AM

    I love your activities that you use to get to know each other!

    Teaching Autism

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    Replies
    1. DocRunningAugust 9, 2015 at 6:43 PM

      What a warm thought. Thanks for sharing!

      Cheers,
      DocRunning

      Delete
  4. UnknownAugust 9, 2015 at 6:38 AM

    Thanks for linking up! I love your ideas and was thinking I could easily implement them in third grade! It is absolutely essential to get to know your students-- that's how you can be most successful! Thanks for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. DocRunningAugust 9, 2015 at 6:42 PM

      I do think many of the ideas are adaptable across grade levels. Love to hear about how you use them in third grade.

      Cheers,
      DocRunning

      Delete
  5. savvy teaching tipsAugust 9, 2015 at 10:27 AM

    You have some great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
    Sandra
    Sandra's Savvy Teaching Tips

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    Replies
    1. DocRunningAugust 9, 2015 at 6:42 PM

      Thanks for reading them...Glad it could be helpful.

      Cheers,
      DocRunning

      Delete
  6. Mrs. E Teaches MathAugust 9, 2015 at 6:34 PM

    It really is so much easier to connect with students when you know them a little better. I'm fortunate that I've only ever had around 80 at one time, but it still takes time to find out what makes them "click".

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    Replies
    1. DocRunningAugust 9, 2015 at 6:41 PM

      Absolutely! The connections with students just make everything easier. And now I teach less than 50 students each quarter, so it's more fun than ever.

      Cheers,
      DocRunning

      Delete
  7. Kelley SmithAugust 16, 2015 at 2:49 PM

    Love the self-reflecting sheet at the beginning of the school year! Have a fabulous school year.

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  8. Linda Post: The Teacher's PostAugust 17, 2015 at 4:49 AM

    Great ideas for getting to know your students!

    ReplyDelete