tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822661251312549323.post2690076911281758713..comments2023-10-07T09:31:35.746-04:00Comments on on the learn: Let's Pretend, for Our Teacher's Sake, That This Is Not Extremely Uncomfortable for All Parties Involvedteach people not bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02178351970916456582noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822661251312549323.post-81613255604901606842008-09-02T19:28:00.000-04:002008-09-02T19:28:00.000-04:00One of my favourite getting to know you activities...One of my favourite getting to know you activities was "The Most Important Book".<BR/><BR/>I had students bring in a book that was important to them. We had a community circle and the students explained why it was so important. While I didn't learn something about every student I did learn about a lot of them. I learned how comfortable they were speaking in front of the group. I learned which students were willing to take something like that seriously. I learned about some of my students favourite current books. I learned that my big tough guy grade eight boy had really fond memories of his mom reading "Runaway Bunny" to him as a kid (awww!). I learned that one of my students was really into learning about the paranormal. I learned which ones like non-fiction more than fiction (and vice versa). <BR/><BR/>And some of them told really touching stories about how their favourite book was the one their grandmother gave them right before she died. That tells me something, too. :)<BR/><BR/>I like to do some team building activities - though not necessarily getting to know you. I think of it more as "getting to TRUST you". I need my kids to feel comfortable to learn in my classroom. And if that means taking 20 minutes to go outside and have them untie a class human knot - then so be it. <BR/><BR/>Most importantly - don't do ANYTHING that YOU think is lame. Because the kids will know it.<BR/><BR/>Sharon<BR/>www.msdrummond.comthe cluttered deskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17587894908489583768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822661251312549323.post-90717042937578073192008-09-01T19:39:00.000-04:002008-09-01T19:39:00.000-04:00This is probably too late, sorry. I don't do any ...This is probably too late, sorry. I don't do any getting-to-know-you activities because I hate them as well. I introduce myself, then we get working. And I really mean working. Whatever type of things we're going to do on the 78th day of school we do on the first day of school. Some of the other teachers think it's too much too soon, but it works for me.SSCaldwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14195147778763439999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822661251312549323.post-67636409998395978852008-08-24T13:04:00.000-04:002008-08-24T13:04:00.000-04:00Hey I thought of one from a grad class that was co...Hey I thought of one from a grad class that was cool : slips of paper with this written on top : One thing nobody knows about me is<BR/><BR/>naturally you encourage them to avoid the my mom strips at the flaming monkey on wednesdays answers but in colleg eit was pretty cool the group had to figure out whose slip was whose and it was a good lesson in avoiding initial judgements based on appearance or perceived appearanceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822661251312549323.post-40266753944637681572008-08-24T11:47:00.000-04:002008-08-24T11:47:00.000-04:00justice--i see what you mean. why worry so much ab...justice--i see what you mean. why worry so much about those first couple days? i'm going to do me, and they're going to do them. and i'm in no rush for them to feel like they know all about me and i all about them--that's artifice, and that's not how human relationships work. you know, you're making me miss my k-3 kids! have to take that k-5 praxis...<BR/><BR/>reading--i'm so glad to hear this works well for you, and that you usually schedule it right around the time i do. thanks for the backup on this one! i will definitely be using it. <BR/><BR/>enc--i like your idea of starting with a question that warrants an unintrusive and non-threatening response, one that everyone (most hopefully!) will have an answer for. i'm going to think on this. i can see how this would put everyone at ease and release some first-day stress/pressure. <BR/><BR/>mr.--i like yours too!teach people not bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02178351970916456582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822661251312549323.post-27192060231705864432008-08-23T20:35:00.000-04:002008-08-23T20:35:00.000-04:00hahha u'r blog's funnyhahha u'r blog's funny.....https://www.blogger.com/profile/16097640453005747136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822661251312549323.post-55236611609970859462008-08-23T16:04:00.000-04:002008-08-23T16:04:00.000-04:00Icebreakers are difficult, because though we all s...Icebreakers are difficult, because though we all secretly love talking about ourselves, we can really feel like dorks doing it. <BR/><BR/>I run Spinning classes, and the first thing I like to do with a new class is make a joke, usually one that reminds them that I'm a human being. <BR/>"How many people ate breakfast?" [hands go up] "How many people ate Chips Ahoy for breakfast?" [laughs] Then I go around and ask what each person ate for breakfast. If they tell the truth, fine. If they lie, fine. But they're talking, listening to each other, and getting into the task at hand.<BR/><BR/>I don't know if that helps, but hey, I got to talk about myself! ;)Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03406942482508439839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822661251312549323.post-65983664673981033282008-08-23T13:38:00.000-04:002008-08-23T13:38:00.000-04:00I have my students write "Where I'm From" poems an...I have my students write "Where I'm From" poems and they turn out amazingly well! We usually start on the second/third day. It's a great way to get to know the kids. <BR/>-sarahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822661251312549323.post-55972911659693109802008-08-23T09:19:00.000-04:002008-08-23T09:19:00.000-04:00In my milieu familiarity breeds contempt especiall...In my milieu familiarity breeds contempt especially since there's a fairly small pool of kids in the highly restrictive behavioral program we teach. We're more inclined to squash their wistful walks down bad memory lane like Hey Ya'll remember in 3rd grade when Tay's Mom came to school and beat his butt in fronta the whole class ? Shut up fore I whip your butt... Children, now now... Best of luck but after day one they'll be succumbing to your pedagogical mastery anyway, so why sweat it..?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com