Knowing your students on a personal level can significantly increase their classroom participation. By understanding their interests, strengths, and difficulties, you can tailor your instruction to meet each student's unique requirements. In this blog post, we will discuss five activities that will help you get to know your students better and ultimately increase their classroom participation.
Interest Inventories - Request that your students complete an interest inventory at the outset of the academic year. This straightforward questionnaire may inquire about their preferred pastimes, subjects, novels, films, and aspirations. Utilise the information collected from these inventories to create engaging and purposeful lessons and activities that capitalise on their interests.
Interviews One-on-One: Schedule - Time to conduct concise interviews with each of your students. You can learn more about their lives outside of school, their learning styles, and any personal challenges they may be confronting through these conversations. Utilise these interviews' insights to inform your teaching and provide individualised assistance.
Classmate Bingo - Create a bingo card highlighting distinctive characteristics, experiences, or passions (e.g., "has travelled to another country," "plays a musical instrument"). Encourage your students to ask questions and learn more about one another by having them mingle and locate classmates who match the descriptions on their cards. Not only does this activity help you learn more about your students, but it also fosters a sense of community in the classroom.
Two Truths and a Lie - It is a classic icebreaker in which students take turns sharing two true and one deceptive statement about themselves. The remaining students must then determine which statement is false. This entertaining activity promotes critical thinking and active listening while encouraging students to share fascinating facts about themselves.
Student-Led Show and Tell - Invite students to bring in a meaningful object or anecdote to share. This could be an heirloom, a favourite book, or a personal achievement. By allowing students to share something meaningful to them, you can learn more about their backgrounds and interests while simultaneously fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom environment.
Spending more time getting to know your students can have a significant impact on their classroom engagement and success. By implementing these exercises, you can nurture stronger relationships with your students, cultivate a positive learning environment, and ultimately improve their educational experience.
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