Starting the year off with a get to know you activity is what most teachers do. I am no different. I like to have a questionnaire for the students on the first day of school for them to fill out. This helps me to get to know them as people, rather than just as students in my class.
But more than that, I actually use these surveys at the end of the year as well! Come over to my blog to see how I take the answers the students give and create a goodbye poem for them using The Important Book. While you are there, pick up your copy of the questionnaire and the sentence frames for the poem so you can do the same next year!
M3IL says
Hello from IL. I was looking at your Open House pictures. I love all the work your students did. It was a busy year! I especially liked the people in uniforms. I imagine students really enjoyed researching and constructing those models.
I also saw that we have the same rug. I love mine too and use it constantly, both as a resource and a gathering place. It struck me how many students you are teaching in a relatively tiny space, AND how effeciently and completely you are using it. It appears you are in an older building in a somewhat struggling neighborhood. I commend you for doing such powerful work with students who are benefitting SO much! Enjoy this time of renewal and creativity. Mary
classfreeadmin says
Thank you so very much for your kind words Mary! I really appreciate them 🙂
~Stephanie