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.
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- 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?