Ways to introduce yourself to students is the topic of our blog post today!
As teachers and educators, back to schools is always exciting not least because we get to welcome new faces and meet old and new colleagues. During the first week of school, we get to plant the first seeds that set the tone for the rest of the school year. And yes, getting to know our students names and addressing students using their first names can work wonders in building lasting bonds and fostering a healthy and welcoming classroom culture.
In this post, I am sharing this curated list of fun activities to introduce yourself to students. I invite you to check them out and share if you have other suggestions. For more materials, check out our Back to School section.
Here are some practical suggestions for fun ways to introduce yourself to students:
Tell them three things about yourself, two of which are true, and one is a lie. Let them guess which one is the lie. This will not only help them learn about you but it’s also a fun game that encourages interaction.
Use free online tools like Canva or Pixton to create a comic strip about your life or your experiences as a teacher. This could be a fun, visual way for students to learn about you.
Make a slideshow presentation including pictures from different stages of your life, favorite hobbies, pets, or travels. This can be a fun and personal way to share about yourself.
If you’re technologically inclined and have access to the necessary equipment, you can create a simple virtual or augmented reality experience for your students that introduces you in a unique way.
Create an interactive quiz about yourself using tools like Kahoot! or Quizizz. This can make your introduction more engaging and fun for your students.
Bring a box with various items that symbolize who you are or things you like. Let students pick items from the box and guess their significance to you.
Create a small scavenger hunt that leads to clues about who you are. It could be as simple as clues leading to different parts of the classroom or as complex as an online scavenger hunt that utilizes the school’s website or learning platform.
Create a short video or an animated clip introducing yourself. You could include clips or photos from your life, have a little tour of your classroom, or even create a fun animation.
Tell a story about a significant event in your life that helped shape who you are today. You could also share a story about your journey to become a teacher. Make sure to keep it engaging and age-appropriate.
On the board or a large paper, draw a silhouette of your head and inside write words that describe you. You could write your hobbies, favorite food, places you’ve been to, and so forth. Ask students to guess what these mean to you.
If you’re into art, draw or paint something that represents you and your life. Share your artwork with the students and explain the symbolism.
Let the students ask you any questions (within appropriate boundaries) they want about you for a set amount of time. It’s like an open forum where students can get to know you better.
Show them a “time capsule” filled with items that are meaningful to you or represent various aspects of your life. These could be items related to your interests, previous jobs, childhood, and family.
Share a playlist of your favorite songs. For each song, explain why it’s significant to you. This can give students insight into your personality and taste.
Use a tool like Mentimeter to create a live, interactive word cloud. You can start by entering keywords about yourself, and then invite students to add their own guesses or questions about you.
If you’re introducing yourself online, use a virtual background that reflects something personal (like a photo from a favorite trip or your hometown). Challenge students to guess its significance.
Provide clues about yourself to the class and let them guess who you are. Clues could range from your favorite book to your favorite vacation spot.
Write a heartfelt letter to your students introducing yourself and explaining your teaching philosophy. Invite them to write a response or a letter about themselves back to you.
Use online tools to create an emoji that best represents you. Share this with your students and ask them to guess the meaning behind it.
Design a simple board game that lets students learn about you as they progress. This could include trivia questions about you, and fun facts could be the rewards for moving forward.
Use the letters of your name to start each line of a poem. Each line can reveal something about you.
A great way to introduce yourself could be to teach a mini-lesson on a subject you’re passionate about. This gives students insight into who you are outside the classroom and shows them that you’re a lifelong learner, too.
23. Digital Breakout: Create a digital breakout game using information about yourself. As the students solve the clues, they’ll learn more about you.
Write an “I am” poem filled with descriptors about yourself. You could even incorporate literary devices like simile, metaphor, and personification to give it a bit of a creative twist.
Show the students a symbol that represents you. It could be anything—a tree if you love nature, a book if you’re a bibliophile, etc. Explain why you chose that symbol.
And there you have it, a treasure trove of creative, engaging, and genuinely fun ways to introduce yourself to your students. I hope you find them as interesting and helpful as I do. As always, feel free to reach out with more suggestions and feedback.
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Dr. Med Kharbach is an influential voice in the global educational technology landscape, with an extensive background in educational studies and a decade-long experience as a K-12 teacher. Holding a Ph.D. from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada, he brings a unique perspective to the educational world by integrating his profound academic knowledge with his hands-on teaching experience. Dr. Kharbach's academic pursuits encompass curriculum studies, discourse analysis, language learning/teaching, language and identity, emerging literacies, educational technology, and research methodologies. His work has been presented at numerous national and international conferences and published in various esteemed academic journals.
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