Summary
Using a getting to know you math activity helps you foster positive relationships with students. Positive student relationships are fundamental to success. When students feel supported, they're more likely to engage in learning and have better academic outcomes. The first day of school is perfect for getting to know your students and is a must do back to school activity.
Using a getting to know you math activity helps you foster positive relationships with students. Positive student relationships are fundamental to success. When students feel supported, they’re more likely to engage in learning and have better academic outcomes. The first day of school is perfect for getting to know your students and is a must do back to school activity.
☀Download this BONUS Guide with everything you need to create a growth mindset classroom and positive classroom community.
➕Includes definitions, lesson ideas, mindset surveys for students and teachers, and printable posters.
🧠💪Research shows a link between a growth mindset and math success. Kids with a growth mindset about their abilities perform better and are more engaged in the classroom.
👉Includes everything you need to start cultivating a more positive math classroom and students who love math. Download and get started today! Click here to download the Mindset Guide & Survey.
I include activities that help establish routines and expectations during the first week of school. Still, I also like to begin to develop positive, respectful relationships with my students. It is essential that you earn your students’ trust early on in the year. A trusting classroom with mutual respect is a thriving classroom complete with active, engaging learning opportunities. The first week of school is a great time to use activities to foster a positive classroom environment.
How to Foster Relationships to Build a Classroom Community
The first few days of school are important—it’s a chance to get to know your new students and set the tone for the year ahead.
- Learn your students’ names and greet them each morning at the door.
- Chat with students as they arrive at class. Ask about sports, hobbies, their birthday, the latest movie or music.
- Share some of your life with students. Tell them about your family, pets, and hobbies. Let them know that you are a real person and give them something to ask you about.
- Give positive reinforcement that shows you know them.
- Allow time in class for students to share things about their interests.
- Aim to speak to every student every day.
How to Get a Growth Mindset
Research has shown that teaching students the concept of a growth mindset and how they can harness its power can positively impact student achievement. They need to learn that they can achieve in all areas and that struggling is part of the process. In addition, we need to help them understand the connection between effort and improvement. Read more…5 Powerful Ideas to Help Students Develop a Growth Mindset in Mathematics.
Try out this free Mindset Survey for students to learn about their mindset and how they feel about math class. By talking about students’ mindsets, surveying them, and having displays around the classroom, you are showing students the importance have having a growth mindset.
Students need to understand that you believe in their unlimited potential for them to believe in their abilities. The goal of the growth mindset classroom is to develop the love of learning in each student.
Growth Mindset Classroom
Research has shown that teaching students the concept of a growth mindset and how they can harness its power can positively impact student achievement. They need to learn that they can achieve in all areas and that struggling is part of the process. We need to help them understand the connection between effort and improvement.
Here are 5 ready to use Growth Mindset lessons to use with students. They include lesson plans, slide decks with information to share with students, printables, suggestions for a read-aloud, and videos to use with students.
- 5 Ready to Use Growth Mindset Lessons
- Power of Yet Lesson Plan
- Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math
Why Use All About Me Activities?
Building strong relationships with students can help them develop academically and socially. The way to reach your students, help them achieve, solve classroom management issues, and create a healthy classroom environment is to build relationships with them.
As teachers, we have the power to influence young minds. We must build trust with students and show them we care about their success. Engaging them in conversations about things that interest them. Listening to students demonstrates you care.
All about me activities are a great way to learn about students. In addition, if they are done digitally or on paper, you can keep them and refer to them as needed.
The Importance of All About Me Activities for Elementary Students
Positive relationships are built on positive interactions. Each of these interactions has a powerful effect on the brain. When you authentically praise a student or have a positive interaction, the student’s brain releases dopamine.
When students feel safe, they’re more likely to participate in class discussions, ask questions, or try to do an assignment even when it’s hard.
Getting to Know You Activities for Math For the First Week of School
It is essential for teachers to work on building relationships with students. However, they also need to provide time for students to build relationships with each other. This will help form a caring community of learners that feel safe to take risks and have a growth mindset.
Build Positive Relationships Among Students
- Have peers interview each other on specific topics
- Teachers can use the information on relationships to demonstrate math concepts, etc. (How many students like to play soccer? Is that more or less than the number who like ice cream?)
- Student matches-students can be assigned to find peers with a particular characteristic and then get their signature.
- Guess who? Students write down a fact about themselves, then give it to the teacher, and students have to guess who it is. This can also be called what is special or unique facts about me.
- Fact and fiction. Students write one or two statements that are true about themselves and one that is false. Students guess, which is false. This could be adapted and called True or False.
Teachers Can Build Community
- Spend time with children—even for short periods of time- to get to know children’s interests, preferences, families, etc.
- Journal with children regarding likes, dislikes, and shared interests
- Greet and dismiss children with warmth and kindness
- Hold class meetings to determine if there is any need for discussion of specific topics
- Be trustworthy and caring in your interactions.
- Use a Mindset Survey with Students. Read more… Top 3 Characteristics of a Growth Mindset Student and Using a Mindset Survey
All About Me Math Activity
A fun way to incorporate a getting to know you activity into a math class is by using numbers or equations to tell facts about yourself.
All About Me Math Worksheet
These All About Me Activity Sheets are perfect for the beginning of the school year. Students tell about themselves using numbers. This All About Me by the numbers is a way to incorporate math into the activity. Check out this freebie here All About Me Activity Sheets.
A version allows younger students to enter a number into the box. There is another version for older students to enter an equation to represent the statement. This is an excellent getting to know you math activity that can be displayed on a math bulletin board.
All About Me Activity Sheets
These all about me activity sheets are in black and white or color. Print these All About Me sheets or use the Google Slides digitally.
The digital versions can be compiled into a slide deck and shared with all the students to help students to get to know each other. This All About Me Activity is in print and digital formats.
All About Me In Numbers Math Bulletin Board Ideas
Having a place to showcase students’ progress and growth is essential. This should display students’ best work and the work where they persevered and overcame a challenge. Students need to see that making mistakes is part of learning.
At the beginning of the year, building relationships and getting to know your students is vital. This Free All About Me Using Numbers activity can be displayed on a beginning of the year bulletin board.
Read more… Top 7 Must Have Best Beginning of The Year Bulletin Board Ideas For Math
Additional All About Me Math Activities
The start of the school year is a terrific time to get to know your students and encourage them time to get to know one another.
- Icebreakers Volume 5: All-About-You Activities for the First Days of School
- 16 Fun “Getting To Know You” Icebreakers for Kids Perfect for School
- 25 Elementary Icebreakers To Start the School Year Off Right
More Blog Posts
- 7 Easy and Inspiring Ideas for Classroom Setup of your Math Classroom
- 5 Powerful Ideas to Help Students Develop a Growth Mindset in Mathematics
- 3 Brilliant Ideas to Clean Your Room To Prepare for a New School Year
- 5 Powerful Ideas to Help Students Develop a Growth Mindset in Mathematics
All About Me Activity for Back to School
The best teachers are capable of maximizing the learning potential of each student in their class. Building a trusting relationship with your students can be both challenging and time-consuming.
Download my BONUS Guide with everything you need to create a growth mindset classroom.
Includes definitions, lesson ideas, mindset surveys for students and teachers, and printable posters. Research shows a link between a growth mindset and math success. Kids with a growth mindset about their abilities perform better and are more engaged in the classroom. Includes everything you need to cultivate a more positive math classroom and students who love math. Download the Ultimate Guide for a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math, and get started today!
Developing solid relationships with your students is essential in fostering academic success. Using a getting to know you math activity is a simple and fun way to begin building relationships during the first week of school.
