What I Want My Teacher to Know
Reflect on your strengths, struggles, and needs, and share what helps you learn best.
Class opens with this
Choose one of the sentence frames to answer: “When I feel heard in class, I feel because ” “If my teacher really understood me, they’d know ”
How it runs
Students fill in a template about their strengths, struggles, and what helps them learn. The page has a perforated section that comes only to you, so a student can share the top half with the class and keep the rest private.
At the end, students tear off the bottom, fold it, and hand it to you. You can vary the sentence frames, but have a reason for whatever you ask, because you are going to get an answer.
Why it is worth the period
It is the fastest way to find out what a new student needs from you, and it tells them you intend to ask rather than assume.
- Reflect on their individual learning preferences, motivators, and challenges
- Communicate personal insights to foster understanding and empathy
- Contribute to a classroom culture of respect and voice
Teacher note
It is critical that you find time to meet individually with students who share something private. Teacher can choose to vary the sentence frames (ie. I prefer to work ___ , My favorite songs are _____). Whatever you ask, make sure you have a purpose for that information.