Being Shy is Tough...
Student icebreaker questions are a necessity in our teaching world. They especially were for me. As a kid, I always steered more towards the introverted side. As I grew up, I became more self-assured and confident, but conversation has always been one of those things I struggle with (and have spent lots of time getting better at).
Growing up, it was my teachers who were some of the best listeners in my life. Luckily I also had two great conversationalists as parents, but our students might not be so lucky. You may be one of the only people who can really listen to a student in their life.
Being an introverted teacher talking to introverted students is tough– been there. Being an extroverted teacher talking to introverted students is tough. But it’s all in how you draw them in. Conversation takes practice, but it can be mastered.
One of the greatest things you can do in your classroom is talk (really talk!) with your students.
Conversation is a tricky beast...
Ever felt like you wanted to know your students more, you just don’t quite know where to start? Do you find yourself struggling to find things to talk about and just never feeling like you can get the conversation flowing with a few specific students?
Um, SAME! Kids are tough to crack sometimes, but it doesn’t take much to get the majority to open up to you a little bit (and it’s OK if it takes time to get there!) You just have to have a few great student icebreaker questions in your back pocket to whip out whenever you have a few free minutes!
When to Use Your Student Icebreaker Questions
- Breakfast in the Classroom
- At the Bus Lot
- Lining Up
- Before the Bell Rings
- Conferences
- When a Student Finishes a Project Early
- Lunch/Recess Duty
- Passing Period
- Alternative to Calling Names for Attendance
- Beginning of the Year/ After a Break
If you’ve never watched this video from Celeste Headlee, it explains some great things about some of the subtleties of conversation (and some of the things we do that kill conversations). She has some excellent tips for talking with everyone (both kids and adults).
Seriously. Watch it!
Having the tough conversations...
Sometimes as teachers, we need to discuss some harder-to-handle things with students. Maybe it’s something potentially embarrassing for the student (like hygiene issues) or something emotional (like getting back on track after a death/divorce/trauma). Here’s a great guide on how to address concerns & motivate change.
Remember, your admin/school nurse/ counseling team is always available to help you handle the tricky stuff too! And as always, just remember your duty as a mandatory reporter. Sometimes things come up when talking to students that are a cause for concern (even if all you were hoping for was an easy breezy chit-chat). Have a plan just in case.
The ultimate goal of having fun conversations with students is (of-course) to build positive classroom culture. But, your end goal should be to become a trusted adult in your students life (who they can come to if they need help).
I hope this was helpful! Want to read more about becoming a great teacher? Click here.
What’s your favorite conversation starter for students? Leave a comment below!
