Student Introductions for New School Year
Introduction Activities to Help Students Get to Know Themselves
Aug 31, 2009
Teachers can use this simple writing activity to encourage students to think about themselves more critically as well as start to plan for their futures. Teachers can design a writing activity that focuses on students at two stages in their lives: now and in the future. This written response can serve as a springboard to additional introduction activities for the new school year.
In concept, this is a relatively easy classwork assignment. In reality, it may take students a while to complete it because it requires some introspective thought. Students should type a two paragraph response.
Introduction Activity First Paragraph: "Who are You Now?"
In a well written paragraph, students should introduce themselves to their teacher by describing five details about themselves that best describe who they are. These details can include current interests, hobbies, accomplishments or possessions. They can also include descriptions of family members or other important people in their lives. Then, students must explain why each of these details help define who they are as individuals at this time.
Introduction Activity Second Paragraph: "Who Do You Want to Be?"
In another well-written paragraph, students should describe five accomplishments they want to achieve in their lifetimes. These can include personal or professional aspirations, lifetime goals or dreams, or anything they really want to do that would make their lives worthwhile. Students must be very specific in explaining why they want to achieve these accomplishments and how they will impact on their lives.
New School Year Student Interviews
Once students have completed their two paragraph responses answering the questions above, they should prepare three or more interview questions for their peers. During a limited timeframe, students should attempt to interview as many students as possible, paying particular attention to future plans and aspirations. They should jot down their findings in a notebook and identify common goals among students they have interviewed.
Student Introductions Group Discussion
After students have interviewed several peers and taken notes on their interviews, they should come together as a class and report their findings to the entire group. The teacher can create a tally on the whiteboard to identify various student goals and how many students share similar goals.
This student introduction writing activity can spark wonderful discussion among students and help teachers learn about the unique qualities of each of their students. Because of this, it is an easy interactive activity for students to participate in during the first week of school.
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