Day 1: Other things to think about

B. Find out who your students are.

• Some schools have you check in students by reviewing their schedules. Other schools give you a roster and don't ask you to do anything with checking in the kids.
• Have students fill out an information sheet for you. It will take about 20 minutes which should be enough time for you to check-in students and add names to the roster that were not on it already.
• Some teachers like to have students write personal info on an index card. Index cards are small and easy to keep track of. The student writes his/her name, phone number, parent/guardians' names, and any other info you want to know about the student on the front lined side. You can use the backside to take notes when you make calls home.

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• Items to include in an information sheet (these are suggestions...use whatever is appropriate for your population)
  • Student name, name they prefer to be called
  • home address where I can drop off stuff for them after school
  • names of parents
  • phone numbers for parents
  • phone number to best reach student
  • time of day to best reach parents
  • time of day to best reach student
  • email addresses of parents and student
  • code name they want to use on the grade sheet you'll post in the classroom
  • birthdate
  • how long have they lived in the town the school is in?
  • how long have they lived in the US?
  • Where else have they lived and for how long?
  • Which languages can they read? speak? write? speak fluently?
  • their schedule
  • What is the primary language spoken at home?
  • grades they earned in their previous math and science classes
  • Which math and science classes they have taken in high school

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  • Do they have a job? Where do they work? How many hours a week do they work?
  • Do they play sports? If so, which ones?
  • Do they do extracurricular activities? If so, what do they do?
  • Are they planning on making schedule changes? If so, to what?
  • Do they prefer to work by themselves or in a group?
  • Do they require any special seating arrangements? (front of room, back of room)
  • Do they have a learning disability? If so, what do teachers usually do to help them out? Who is their case worker at the school (or advocate)?
  • Are they allergic to nuts, latex, or any other substance?
  • Looking around the room, is there anybody they know they should not sit next to? If so, who?
  • Do they like to do labs?
  • Do they like to learn via lecture?
  • Do they like to do worksheets?
  • Do they like to watch demonstrations?
  • What are their expectations for the teacher?
  • What are their expectations for the class?
  • Classroom rules that are good to have
  • Classroom rules that are a waste of time
  • What is one thing they like about:
  • Themselves
  • Their school
  • Their community
  • If there was one thing they could change about ________ what would it be?
  • themselves
  • their school
  • their community

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  • Indicate which of the following comments apply to them:
  • I will ask for help when I need it
  • I won't ask for help when I need it
  • I am comfortable asking questions in class
  • I am not comfortable asking questions in class
  • I like to volunteer answers
  • I don't like to volunteer answers
  • I usually know the answer to questions, but do not like to share them with the class
  • I usually don't know the answers to questions and I don't want to let the class know
  • I don't mind being called on even if I don't raise my hand
  • I won't answer questions if I am called on randomly
  • I usually come to class every day
  • I usually come to class on time every day
  • I am often late to class
  • I am late maybe 2 times a month
  • I am often absent
  • I am rarely absent
  • I have to take care of another human in my home (grandparent, parent, child)

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• Are they planning to go to college? If so, which ones are they interested in? What do they want to major in?
• What careers are they interested in
• What do they think they'll be doing when they are ________ years old. (put in your age for the blank)
• Is there anything else you should know so that your time together is as productive as possible?

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