How well do you really know your students? Do you know their inner-thoughts, interests, hopes, dreams, fears, and worries? Do you know who their friends and frenemies are? There is a pretty easy way to learn a lot, and I mean A LOT, about your students regardless of grade level and age.
Every few weeks, I use a simple exit-ticket type strategy at the end of class. This is not your typical formal exit-ticket to check academic strengths and weaknesses, however. This is more of a social-emotional check in, a way for your students to feel safe about opening up and sharing their thoughts. It gives them an opportunity to feel heard, to feel they have a voice in what is happening, and sometimes a way for them to look inward and do a little self-check into their own progress and success in their own lives.
So what is this secret insight into the students emotional cave? Just ask them! That’s it. Kids are generally more open and honest than we give them credit for. Basically, I ask them to answer three questions on an index card, and not one of them will be academic based. Sometimes I ask if there is anything bothering them that I should know about, if there is one thing from the last week they would like to do over or fix, something they are really struggling with at school or outside of school, if there is a problem with someone in the class or grade level they want me to address (I find out about a lot of behind-the-scenes problems this way). Occasionally I will ask sillier questions: where would you vacation if you had a million dollars to spend, what law would you put in place if you were president (those are pretty funny answers), what is your dream car, favorite music/snack/movie, what color would you pick if you could only wear one color for the rest of your life?
I have found that offering a mix of serious and silly questions does not work, at least not for my 7th graders. I think their brains can only handle one emotional need at a time! While some of them like the mix, most give more honest answers when their emotions are the priority. We all know how important Social Emotional Learning is and how valuable it can be to keep it at the forefront of a classroom (don’t even get me started on the districts that put this at the top of the non-essential cut list). Giving students the opportunity to use an outlet for their social emotional needs can be so detrimental to the mental wellness of a classroom. That, and they will totally “spill the tea” to you on that little card! Give it a try and let me know how it goes!
Lynna Schiller
Lynna Schiller is currently teaching 7th grade Science at Cheatham Elementary in Laveen, Az. She has held many various roles in almost 20 years of education and has been in the LESD district for the last 8 years. While literacy has always been her priority, she has taken on several other grades and content areas including math and science. She began her secondary teaching adventure in the Phoenix Union High School District teaching 11th grade American Literature. She spent 6 years in a charter school in Avondale where she taught Sophomore English and Reading Skills and then joined the admin team as Instructional Coach and student advisor, testing coordinator, and part-time Assistant Principal (All at the same time! Ambitious? Exhausting!). After taking some time off to be Mom to her two daughters, she began working part-time in the Laveen District as an Instructional Associate using her knowledge and skills in literacy to work with students who fell far below grade level in reading; she enjoys working closely with other teachers to help struggling students find their own success. In leisurely times, she can be found curled up in her recliner with her stack of books, a cup of coffee, and her dog.
Comments 1
This is a great idea of getting to know students more and check in with them! Thank you for sharing!