To learn a new group of students’ names quickly, try asking them to fill out name tags on the first day of class. This will also help students get to know each other. For younger students, a name game makes a fun icebreaker activity that gets the entire class interacting with each other.
Joining in a group activity as a teacher is a great way to help younger students see the activity as fun instead of a required task. The more fun they have with you, the stronger their affection for you will be. For older students where in-class activities are less common, integrate yourself into class discussions and have thoughtful exchanges with students rather than simply asking questions and selecting participants to answer them.
Try incorporating popular answers into your lesson plans. For example, if multiple students say they like watching The Great British Bake Off, try using baking recipes to create math problems involving fractions. Young students who are still learning how to read and write can prepare a short presentation about themselves and their favorite things as a fun alternative to a written survey.
One fun idea to get to know more about your students’ lives is to create a community events calendar in your classroom. Students can add birthdays, sports games, community theater plays, or other activities they’re involved in. If it’s appropriate, you can attend one of their events to show you’re supportive of them and not just their math grades. If you can’t go, it’ll still give you ample conversation starters.
Noticing which students are friendly with each other can help you form a relationship with distant students. Try striking up a conversation about a topic of interest to a shy student with a friend of theirs. If they overhear the conversation, they might be drawn in and open up to you a bit more. This is particularly helpful for elementary and some junior high students. [6] X Trustworthy Source Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Nonprofit organization providing innovative, effective educational resources for educators designed to support student achievement Go to source
Try speaking one-on-one with challenging elementary students every day, even if it’s only for 30 seconds. The consistency will show them you’re trying to get to know them, and will eventually help break down barriers and improve your relationship. [8] X Trustworthy Source Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Nonprofit organization providing innovative, effective educational resources for educators designed to support student achievement Go to source For junior high and high school students, try a “check-in day” where you meet one-on-one with each student briefly while the rest of the class works on an assignment. The meeting can start with observations about class and transition to more personal topics if appropriate. Even if a student appears unresponsive to your attempts to talk, they hear what you’re saying. They may not open up immediately, but their relationship with you might blossom in the long term. [9] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source
Engage in dialogue with students instead of simply talking “at” them. Give them a chance to let you know how they feel or what they think. [11] X Trustworthy Source National Education Association Union of professional teachers devoted to promoting the success of the public education system by advocating on behalf of teachers and students. Go to source For younger students, look at nonverbal clues like body language and eye contact to help gauge their feelings since they might not be able to verbally articulate all of their thoughts yet. Anonymous student satisfaction surveys can be a useful tool for gathering feedback from older students who may not be comfortable verbally sharing their feedback on their classroom experience.
“Can you tell me more about what happened at recess today, Mikey?” “Hey Carmen, did something happen in the cafeteria today that bothered you?” “Tara, is there something new going on that’s preventing you from turning in your assignments on time?”
Model how to deal with negative emotions. If your students observe you take a deep breath and then calmly address a disruptive incident in class, they’ll start to copy what you do in similar situations.
Stay consistent with your discipline and grading policies as well. Post your rules and expectations in your classroom for elementary students, or give each high school student a handout so that everyone is on the same page from day one. This will help prevent arguments over grades or discipline later. If changes need to be made, make sure the entire class is aware. [15] X Research source Soren Rosier, PhD. PhD in Education Candidate, Stanford University. Expert Interview. 1 May 2019.
“I like how you’ve been using your inside voice in class lately when you’re feeling upset, Alicia. Sometimes I hear your outside voice in the hallway before class. Can you use your inside voice in the hallway too?” “You’ve made great progress on your essay writing this semester, Rico! Let’s take another look at your conclusion paragraph and see if we can make it as good as the rest of your paper. ” “Kevin, your independent work is always very strong. I’d love to see you put the same energy into your group work this semester as well. ”
Make sure your actions match your words. If you talk a big game about wanting to know your students but then yawn or act disinterested when they talk to you, they won’t believe you really care about them. [19] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source Explain your motivation for getting to know your students by making a class announcement like, “We’ll have fun and learn more together if we get to know each other! That’s why I want to know a little bit more about you. ” If you’re trying to reach an individual student, try an empathetic like, “The school year can seem long and difficult, and I’m here to support you as a person as well as teach you history. ”
