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| | Filed Under: Classroom Management and Organization, Math, Reading, Technology, Writing & Grammar

Online discussion can be motivating and encouraging for many students! Whether it's one-on-one discussion so students can ask a question privately, or small or large group discussion, you can keep those important academic and social emotional conversations happening outside of the traditional classroom setting. This post shares several ways to have online discussions with Google Classroom, including a free step-by-step guide showing you how to use several of the features!

Announcements in Stream Tab

One option is to post an announcement in their Google Classroom "Stream" and allow students to reply or only comment on it if they have questions or concerns (depending on the goal and purpose of the announcement).

You can even add images, videos, or files to the announcement if there is content that needs to be sent to students. (I would absolutely love the image feature more if the image was automatically shown, but it has to be clicked on and opened to be viewed).

The Announcement Tab can be a great place to post encouraging messages, daily greetings and the weekly or daily agenda.

You can also use this feature to post an announcement to a smaller group of students if it does not apply to the entire class or if they are doing small group discussions. Only those students would be able to see and comment on that thread. This could be used as an easy way to communicate with students who have missing work or have work that needs to be updated and re-submitted. Or to communicate reminders about small group meetings and projects.

In the stream, you can be the only one to post or you can allow students to also start posts. Whether you allow students to post completely depends on your situation and your students. You can always change this and allow for commenting only at any time.

Organization Tip: Depending on how active your Google Classroom is, your stream may get full quickly. You can also use the 3 dots on an announcement to move it back up to the top.

Question Feature in Classwork Tab

Another way to encourage and monitor class discussion is by posting a "Question" using the Classwork Tab.

Simply go to the "Classwork" tab in Google Classroom and click the "Create" dropdown. Then choose "Question" and whether you want to as a short answer or multiple choice question. You can also choose to send this to the entire class, a small group of students, or just one student.

You can add instructions that include the expectations, any reminders, and even sentence stems.

Management Tip: Requiring the use of sentence stems during online class discussions can help keep the comments focused and on-topic.

In this feature, you can even control whether students are allowed to reply to each other or whether they can change their answer after posting.

Organization Tip : One huge benefit to using the Classwork Tab is that you can keep your discussions organized by using topics. Some different topics could be Morning Meetings, Science Question of the Day, Warmups, etc.

One-on-One Comments on Assignments

Let students know that they have the option to post a private comment on as assignment if they have a specific question for you. You can also use this feature to send comments back to students.

Communicate Within Google Docs and Google Slides

Another option is to communicate in Google Slides and Google Docs. These documents are live documents and can have multiple people with editing rights. You and your students (or a group of students) can talk back and forth right in the document or by using the comment feature on the right of the document.

Teachers can also be in editing, suggesting, or viewing mode. In suggesting mode, you can make comments and suggest edits without actually changing the document. This is a great tool for students who are writing papers or working on a project to get live feedback from classmates or teachers.

Communicating with students and offering feedback while they are still actively completing a task is very powerful! This encourages them to reflect and make adjustments while they are working, which is always more effective feedback. Using communication features through Google Docs and Slides easily allows you to do this.

Create a Separate Google Classroom Just for Discussion

While doing distance learning, you have find that your students are really wanting to have discussions and talk to you and their classmates. Another option that might work better during this specific time if you have a lot of students online wanting to chat is to set up a separate classroom just for social discussions.

You can name the Classroom "Questions" or "Discussions," and send your students a separate code.

Disclaimer: This may not work for every situation and group of students. You would really need to set strong expectations for appropriate conversations and topics. You would also need to monitor this more closely and make sure students know they are being monitored regularly. Use the mute button as a short-term consequence for students who do not follow your discussion expectations.

Management Tips for Online Discussions

One thing to be aware of is that student will probably post inappropriately or immaturely in the beginning. It is very important that you have clear guidelines in place and teach them how to communicate appropriately and respectfully.

You are able to "mute" a student who is acting inappropriately or not following guidelines. This will allow them to see what others are posting, but they won't be able to comment anymore. You can unmute them after a short break.

However, when students are communicating inappropriately, this is the perfect chance to review the guidelines (and ensure you have put guidelines in place).

Ultimately, you know your students best and how to manage their behaviors, but I recommend only muting in serious situations of disrespect or repeated disrespect. Otherwise, review the guidelines or even place some more guidelines in place. For example, your comment must use the sentence stem provided or it will be removed.

Tips for Choosing Methods of Communicate

I know I shared a lot of different ways to have class discussions with Google Classroom (and I am sure there are many more that I didn't cover), so here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Choose the ways to communicate that are easiest for your students to find and navigate. You can always add on other ways later that are more efficient, but get them communicating in the simplest way possible to start.

2. Turn off your email notifications so you do not get bombarded with emails for comments. Or filter them so you make sure you don't miss any private comments.

3. Explicitly go over expectations for online communication and hold the students to those expectations. Students want to talk to their friends and communicate but they also have to do it in respectful and safe ways. If needed, communicate those expectations to parents as well.

4. Monitor methods of communication and don't be afraid to adjust, pause, or discontinue methods that are unproductive (or get off task too much).

5. Play around with the different methods of communication to find what works best for you and your students. Don't take on too much at once though. Start with one and get used to it. Then add on another way.

Want to know more about how to use these features to encourage discussion in your online classroom? Click here to grab the step-by-step guide that shows you how to do the different discussions mentioned on this post (except the Google Classroom Setup).
Download a Step-By-Step Guide Here

More Digital Distance Learning Resources
How to Assign Google Forms How to Create Google Form Assignments Viewing and Analyzing Responses in Google Forms How to Assign Google Slides How to Have Students Show Their Math Work Digitally - Free Student Google Slides Guide Tips for Distance Learning Planning
Blog Posts and Free Guides

Digital Learning Activities
Main Idea Differentiated Practice - These are perfect for assigning differentiated reading practice (texts at two levels to your students). Text Structure Differentiated Practice - Another option for differentiating your reading practice easily. Reading Test Prep Task Cards - This is perfect for reading review! It includes 8 Google Forms in all (with 8 questions per form).
Google Form - Reading Activities
4th Grade Math Test Prep Review 5th Grade Math Test Prep Review 4th Grade Math Differentiated Skill Sheets 5th Grade Math Differentiated Skill Sheets Math Choice Boards (Grades 3-5 Available) 5th Grade Math Skill Posters 5th Grade Math Journal Prompts Decimal of the Day Review Find the Error Math Tasks (Grades 3-5 Available)
Google Slides - Math Activities
4th & 5th Grade Reading View Color by Reading Activities Reading Interactive Notebook Color Coding Text Evidence Printables Reading Intervention Passages with Read Aloud Audio 4th & 5th Grade Reading Flipbooks Theme Activities - Printable and Digital Versions Inference Activities - Printable and Digital Versions 5th Grade Language Review 5th Grade Language Posters Finish the Story! Engaging Narrative Writing Center
Google Slides - Literacy Activities

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Having Online Class Discussions with Google Classroom

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Filed Under: Classroom Management and Organization, Math, Reading, Technology, Writing & Grammar Online discussion can be motivating and encouraging for many students! Whether it's one-on-one discussion so students can ask a question privately, or small or large group discussion, you can keep those important academic and social emotional conversations happening outside of the traditional classroom setting.

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National Educators for Restorative Practices

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To put it mildly, 2020 has been a wild ride! As educators, we've experienced more changes within our profession in the past 8 months than we have in the past 50 years. Last spring, teachers closed their classroom doors, where so much learning and laughter took place and logged on to the unfamiliar and stressful realm of online learning. In an instant, all the wonderful moments that made schools "schools" seemed to evaporate.

Gone were early morning hugs and fist bumps as students greeted each other "Good morning!" Gone was seeing kids walking together in the hallways, laughing about something that happened last period. Gone was sitting next to your best friends at lunch and sharing a bag of chips. Gone was teachers greeting students with high-fives as students entered the classroom. Gone were field trips, school sporting events, and dances. It just seemed like everything was gone... everything except content that is.

Seemingly overnight, teachers rolled up their sleeves and got to work, trying to salvage the rest of the semester to ensure that learning still takes place and our student's academic progress wasn't impeded upon by the pandemic. I truly have never been more proud or in awe of educators!

While we must not let Covid stop our students from achieving and mastering the content you deliver. I feel, as educators, it is perhaps even more imperative to ensure that online learning does not strip away everything that made school "school." Yes, school is about ABCs and 123s, but school is also about building bonds and relationships that last a lifetime. School is about helping our students and educators discover all the unique things that make us different, while simultaneously showing us how similar we are. Schools are sanctuaries for socializing, and we cannot allow online learning to deny our students opportunities to connect with peers and educators as they have in years prior.

Online learning brings many apprehensions and stressors to educators everywhere. It can make the simplest task seem complicated. Many educators we have encountered in our various professional development workshops have expressed great concern about being able to build a family-like community in a virtual setting. If you are an educator struggling with how to put "fun" back into the FUNdamentals of learning and keeping relationships in the center of all (virtual) learning, fear not!!! Below, are 10 fun, easy, free online activities to help ensure that your online classroom is as connected as ever!

1. Deserted Island - A fun activity that allows students to work collaboratively in small groups and use their critical thinking skills to survive!

Give your students the scenario of being stuck on a deserted island. Gather 8 objects to help them stay alive. Show each object you gathered to your students, and give them a brief description of what the item does. The objects can be anything you can imagine. The more obscure the items are, the more the team has to think about how to use them. Examples of the objects could be: a book of matches, an ax, a belt, a deck of cards, etc. Here's where things get interesting... students can only select 3 of the 8 objects you presented..

Split students into groups of 3-4 and have them collaborate on which of the items they would choose, how they would use it, and why it would be imperative to their survival.

Once all small group decisions and discussions have been had, bring all groups together to share and discuss

2. Guess Who - A great get to know your online activity that will keep your students guessing!

There is a little preparation required before beginning a game of Guess Who. Educators will need to collect five personal facts from each of their students. Remind students to identify facts that are fun to learn, but will also challenge the student to guess correctly!

Next, when time permits, the teacher shares 5 facts about one, random student. After all 5 facts have been shared, the students are allowed to guess who the mystery student is. Once the mystery student has been identified, allow him or her to expand upon 1 of the personal facts that was disclosed or give a bonus fact!

Consider having students turn their cameras off after they have guessed for ease of tracking who has and who has not guessed.

3. Picture Me - Picture Me is a vivid and fun way for students to get to see the worlds of their peers through the lens of their camera.

On Fridays remind your students to take one picture of something they see, do, enjoy, etc. over the weekend that is unrelated to schoolwork. For example, a student may take a picture of the dragon fly that landed on their leg while at a siblings soccer game or the motorcycle their uncle drives.

Next, on Mondays, intentionally create a time to allow students to share their photos with their classmates. It is said that, "A picture is worth a thousand words," but time may not allow for that much sharing! Allow each student to take 10 - 20 seconds to explain why they decided to take and share their specific photo.

4. I Wanna... - Teaching ABCs and 123s is a large piece of what education is about, but just as important is the requirement to help our students envision an ambitious future and equip them with the ability to obtain their dreams. I Wanna... is an activity that allows for students to share their dreams, hopes, and ambitions with one another, and perhaps spark discussions about goal setting and plans for how to achieve and master their future.

I Wanna... is a fun activity with little prep work. Simply have students create a list of 3 things they wanna do at some point in their lives. Become president, walk on Saturn, or win an Emmy; there are no perimeters around what those 3 things can be, as long as it stays school appropriate!

Throughout the week, when time allows, have 1 or 2 students share the 3 things on their list. Each student can take time to answer any questions their peers may have about the 3 things.

5. I've Got a Story - As a teacher, you have probably heard some grand fish-tales from your students. Perhaps the dog ate their homework, or a sibling accidentally threw their research paper away. Students are so creative! I've Got a Story is a great activity that works on listening skills and our ability to recall facts and detail. The object of this activity is to get your students creative juices flowing and to construct a story from beginning to end.

First, number you and your students off from 1 to whatever. The person who is #1 starts the story. They will begin the story by stating 1-2 sentences. Example: Tony was flying his kite at the park, when all of a sudden he saw a big purple turtle.

Next, #2 repeats the previous lines and then will add their 1-2 sentences. Continue this process until you and your students have all added to the story. Try to develop a comprehensive story by the time everyone has had a chance to go. For extra fun and engagement, have students draw or animate the story to bring it to life!

6. Show & Tell - Here is an old favorite with a modern twist. Show & Tell is a fun activity to get to know one another better, one tangible item at a time.

Each day, identify a student to share a tangible object that is important to them online with their classmates. The student gets 1-3 minutes to talk about the object. After the student finishes sharing, allow time for the student to answer any questions their peers may have.

Simple, fun, and effective!

7. A Dream Vacay - Everyone, at some point, needs to get away. A Dream Vacay is another great get-to-know-you activity that helps your students build upon their listening skills and exercise their memory.

To pull off A Dream Vacay simply pair students up and send them into breakout rooms. Give them 5 minutes to share with each other what their dream vacation would be if money and time were not a concern. Encourage them to go big!

After students have had time to share with their partner, bring students back together in a whole-group setting. Then have them recall or explain their peer's dream vacation to the entire class. You are now clear for takeoff!

8. 2 Truths & a Lie - As an educator, more than likely you can sniff a lie out a mile away. 2 Truths & a Lie is not a new activity, but the fun never gets old and can be used with you and your students no matter what online learning platform you are using.

Instruct each of your students to create three statements about themselves: two of the statements being truths and the other being a lie. Encourage your students to think about truths that are hard to believe to ensure their lie isn't so easy to detect.

Have your students take turns trying to guess what is true and what is the lie. After all, students have had a chance to guess, the student reveals which statement is actually the lie.

9. What is School? - This is a great activity that will help you obtain a more thorough understanding of how your students view school and feel towards it. Explain to your students that a new student has arrived in your class from a country that doesn't speak English and doesn't have schools.

Divide your students into groups of 3-4 and instruct them to collaborate and locate 5 items, pictures, symbols, etc. that they feel best describe what school is to the new student.

Have them come back together in a whole group setting and share their 5, as well as their thought process on why those items were selected. Pay close attention to the items your students collect. Their selections may give you greater insight to their thoughts, feelings, likes, and dislikes about school.

10. School Talk Show - Talk shows are amongst the most popular types of television shows Americans watch each day and/or night. Bring the popularity of spontaneous conversation into your virtual classroom.

Each week, select a different student to be the guest on the school talk show. Prior to them being the "guest" have students submit questions to you they are interested in learning about their peers.

The day before conducting the talk show, give the guest student a list of the questions (or some of them) you received. This will allow the student time to read over the questions and have answers prepared. Avoid surprising the student with the questions during the activity, as that could cause anxiety and reduce the odds of the student having answers ready.

The next day, set 5 minutes aside so the guest student can answer the questions their peers submitted.

Written by: Alan of NEDRP

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Fun Online Activities for Teachers and Students - National Educators for Restorative Practices

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To put it mildly, 2020 has been a wild ride! As educators, we've experienced more changes within our profession in the past 8 months than we have in the past 50 years. Last spring, teachers closed their classroom doors, where so much learning and laughter took place and logged on to the unfamiliar and stressful realm of online learning.

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Google Meet Polls and Q&A Tutorial and How To Guide

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In previous semesters I used a Google Form to have students check in every week. While Google Forms are the best thing since sliced bread, this semester I switched to using Google Classroom for my weekly check in. Note this is not a 5 a day or "Do Now" but rather an opportunity to connect with students.

Hear From Students

I think it is important to hear from every student so I want to give them an opportunity to ask a question, share a compliment or concern or give a suggestion. When designing lessons, the most important thing to consider is the students you have in front of your face right now. Regularly listening to students helps me to adjust my lessons for their needs rather than my habits or what I'm comfortable with.

Why Not Forms

Forms are awesome, my problem was once I have the information from the students how do I reply back? In the spreadsheet from the Form responses I would insert a feedback column and reply back to each student. I used a mail merge to email each student what they had told me along with my comments back. However, this took me quite a bit of time and the students had to wait for me to respond to everyone and create the mail merge before they got the email. Students could obviously reply to the email but they rarely did.

Switching to Google Classroom

Instead of a Google Form, I now create an assignment in Google Classroom to ask students for questions/concerns/compliments/suggestions.

What I gave up by moving to Google Classroom was data. On the Google Form, I asked a whole bunch of multiple choice questions and checkboxes in addition to the questions/concerns/compliments/suggestions. I had all this data but rarely used it, the heart of what I needed was an ability to connect with each student every week.

Conversations in Google Classroom

I like to say that comments in Google Classroom are not comments, they are conversations. I do NOT use the ask a question feature in Google Classroom for the weekly check in. Instead, I create a regular assignment. I ask students to click on OPEN and use the private comments to leave me a question/concern/compliment/suggestion.

I am immediately able to view and respond to student responses right in the private comments of Google Classroom.

Since I receive an email notification when students leave a private comment I am able tor respond super fast from my phone. I filter my Gmail to star any private comments and put a "private comment" label on the email.

Keep it Simple

This requires almost no tech ability on my part. I did not have to create and attach a Google Form. I did not have to manipulate my spreadsheet. I did not have to set up a mail merge. I SIMPLY REPLY.

Using private comments is super simple but it's also better. Unlike an email, private comments really feel like a conversation. When students have questions we can have a back and forth until they get it. If the student provides a suggestion I can converse with the student in private comments to clarify how to improve the class.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2017

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Google Classroom: Check In with Students - Teacher Tech

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In previous semesters I used a Google Form to have students check in every week. While Google Forms are the best thing since sliced bread, this semester I switched to using Google Classroom for my weekly check in. Note this is not a 5 a day or "Do Now" but rather an opportunity to connect with students.

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| | Filed Under: Classroom Management and Organization, Math, Reading, Technology, Writing & Grammar

Online discussion can be motivating and encouraging for many students! Whether it's one-on-one discussion so students can ask a question privately, or small or large group discussion, you can keep those important academic and social emotional conversations happening outside of the traditional classroom setting. This post shares several ways to have online discussions with Google Classroom, including a free step-by-step guide showing you how to use several of the features!

Announcements in Stream Tab

One option is to post an announcement in their Google Classroom "Stream" and allow students to reply or only comment on it if they have questions or concerns (depending on the goal and purpose of the announcement).

You can even add images, videos, or files to the announcement if there is content that needs to be sent to students. (I would absolutely love the image feature more if the image was automatically shown, but it has to be clicked on and opened to be viewed).

The Announcement Tab can be a great place to post encouraging messages, daily greetings and the weekly or daily agenda.

You can also use this feature to post an announcement to a smaller group of students if it does not apply to the entire class or if they are doing small group discussions. Only those students would be able to see and comment on that thread. This could be used as an easy way to communicate with students who have missing work or have work that needs to be updated and re-submitted. Or to communicate reminders about small group meetings and projects.

In the stream, you can be the only one to post or you can allow students to also start posts. Whether you allow students to post completely depends on your situation and your students. You can always change this and allow for commenting only at any time.

Organization Tip: Depending on how active your Google Classroom is, your stream may get full quickly. You can also use the 3 dots on an announcement to move it back up to the top.

Question Feature in Classwork Tab

Another way to encourage and monitor class discussion is by posting a "Question" using the Classwork Tab.

Simply go to the "Classwork" tab in Google Classroom and click the "Create" dropdown. Then choose "Question" and whether you want to as a short answer or multiple choice question. You can also choose to send this to the entire class, a small group of students, or just one student.

You can add instructions that include the expectations, any reminders, and even sentence stems.

Management Tip: Requiring the use of sentence stems during online class discussions can help keep the comments focused and on-topic.

In this feature, you can even control whether students are allowed to reply to each other or whether they can change their answer after posting.

Organization Tip : One huge benefit to using the Classwork Tab is that you can keep your discussions organized by using topics. Some different topics could be Morning Meetings, Science Question of the Day, Warmups, etc.

One-on-One Comments on Assignments

Let students know that they have the option to post a private comment on as assignment if they have a specific question for you. You can also use this feature to send comments back to students.

Communicate Within Google Docs and Google Slides

Another option is to communicate in Google Slides and Google Docs. These documents are live documents and can have multiple people with editing rights. You and your students (or a group of students) can talk back and forth right in the document or by using the comment feature on the right of the document.

Teachers can also be in editing, suggesting, or viewing mode. In suggesting mode, you can make comments and suggest edits without actually changing the document. This is a great tool for students who are writing papers or working on a project to get live feedback from classmates or teachers.

Communicating with students and offering feedback while they are still actively completing a task is very powerful! This encourages them to reflect and make adjustments while they are working, which is always more effective feedback. Using communication features through Google Docs and Slides easily allows you to do this.

Create a Separate Google Classroom Just for Discussion

While doing distance learning, you have find that your students are really wanting to have discussions and talk to you and their classmates. Another option that might work better during this specific time if you have a lot of students online wanting to chat is to set up a separate classroom just for social discussions.

You can name the Classroom "Questions" or "Discussions," and send your students a separate code.

Disclaimer: This may not work for every situation and group of students. You would really need to set strong expectations for appropriate conversations and topics. You would also need to monitor this more closely and make sure students know they are being monitored regularly. Use the mute button as a short-term consequence for students who do not follow your discussion expectations.

Management Tips for Online Discussions

One thing to be aware of is that student will probably post inappropriately or immaturely in the beginning. It is very important that you have clear guidelines in place and teach them how to communicate appropriately and respectfully.

You are able to "mute" a student who is acting inappropriately or not following guidelines. This will allow them to see what others are posting, but they won't be able to comment anymore. You can unmute them after a short break.

However, when students are communicating inappropriately, this is the perfect chance to review the guidelines (and ensure you have put guidelines in place).

Ultimately, you know your students best and how to manage their behaviors, but I recommend only muting in serious situations of disrespect or repeated disrespect. Otherwise, review the guidelines or even place some more guidelines in place. For example, your comment must use the sentence stem provided or it will be removed.

Tips for Choosing Methods of Communicate

I know I shared a lot of different ways to have class discussions with Google Classroom (and I am sure there are many more that I didn't cover), so here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Choose the ways to communicate that are easiest for your students to find and navigate. You can always add on other ways later that are more efficient, but get them communicating in the simplest way possible to start.

2. Turn off your email notifications so you do not get bombarded with emails for comments. Or filter them so you make sure you don't miss any private comments.

3. Explicitly go over expectations for online communication and hold the students to those expectations. Students want to talk to their friends and communicate but they also have to do it in respectful and safe ways. If needed, communicate those expectations to parents as well.

4. Monitor methods of communication and don't be afraid to adjust, pause, or discontinue methods that are unproductive (or get off task too much).

5. Play around with the different methods of communication to find what works best for you and your students. Don't take on too much at once though. Start with one and get used to it. Then add on another way.

Want to know more about how to use these features to encourage discussion in your online classroom? Click here to grab the step-by-step guide that shows you how to do the different discussions mentioned on this post (except the Google Classroom Setup).
Download a Step-By-Step Guide Here

More Digital Distance Learning Resources
How to Assign Google Forms How to Create Google Form Assignments Viewing and Analyzing Responses in Google Forms How to Assign Google Slides How to Have Students Show Their Math Work Digitally - Free Student Google Slides Guide Tips for Distance Learning Planning
Blog Posts and Free Guides

Digital Learning Activities
Main Idea Differentiated Practice - These are perfect for assigning differentiated reading practice (texts at two levels to your students). Text Structure Differentiated Practice - Another option for differentiating your reading practice easily. Reading Test Prep Task Cards - This is perfect for reading review! It includes 8 Google Forms in all (with 8 questions per form).
Google Form - Reading Activities
4th Grade Math Test Prep Review 5th Grade Math Test Prep Review 4th Grade Math Differentiated Skill Sheets 5th Grade Math Differentiated Skill Sheets Math Choice Boards (Grades 3-5 Available) 5th Grade Math Skill Posters 5th Grade Math Journal Prompts Decimal of the Day Review Find the Error Math Tasks (Grades 3-5 Available)
Google Slides - Math Activities
4th & 5th Grade Reading View Color by Reading Activities Reading Interactive Notebook Color Coding Text Evidence Printables Reading Intervention Passages with Read Aloud Audio 4th & 5th Grade Reading Flipbooks Theme Activities - Printable and Digital Versions Inference Activities - Printable and Digital Versions 5th Grade Language Review 5th Grade Language Posters Finish the Story! Engaging Narrative Writing Center
Google Slides - Literacy Activities

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Having Online Class Discussions with Google Classroom

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Filed Under: Classroom Management and Organization, Math, Reading, Technology, Writing & Grammar Online discussion can be motivating and encouraging for many students! Whether it's one-on-one discussion so students can ask a question privately, or small or large group discussion, you can keep those important academic and social emotional conversations happening outside of the traditional classroom setting.

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How to Use Google Chat - Guide to Google Chat in 2020

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Find resources to help students manage their emotions, resolve conflicts, and make responsible decisions—creating the healthiest school culture possible.

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School During the Pandemic: Mental Health Impacts on Students

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School During the Pandemic: Mental Health Impacts on Students

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Tune in to timely discussions and events on social and emotional learning, including conversations on-demand that you may have missed.

Past Events and Webinars

Virtual Summit On Demand: 2022 SEL Exchange Virtual Summit

November 1 - 30, 2022 at 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT

Did you miss the live virtual summit on October 13? It's not too late! The annual Social and Emotional Learning Exchange Virtual Summit brings education champions together to learn and share insights that advance evidence,...

Access All Past Events and Webinars

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Tune in to timely discussions and events on social and emotional learning, including conversations on-demand that you may have missed. Past Events and Webinars Virtual Summit On Demand: 2022 SEL Exchange Virtual Summit November 1 - 30, 2022 at 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT Did you miss the live virtual summit on October 13?

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The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated feelings of isolation, stress, loss, and more among young people, adults, families, and communities. Social and emotional learning (SEL) offers a powerful means to support one another during these challenging times as our communities work to address the impact of the pandemic on students' learning and development.

Now, more than ever, we understand how important it is to demonstrate empathy and resilience, build relationships across distance, and call upon our collective resolve to strengthen our schools and our communities.

So, how can SEL support you and your work during this time? Find resources and guidance in Reunite, Renew, Thrive: SEL Roadmap for Reopening School (July 2020).

Our recommendations follow the four core focus areas for schoolwide SEL and districtwide SEL:

First, create a foundation for SEL.

Work with students, families, and communities to envision how education can more holistically support all learners.

Prioritize strong, two-way communication between families and schools.

Second, attend to well-being and mutual support among adults.

Pay close attention to our own social-emotional needs in order to be the community of adults who best serve our young people.

Foster supportive adult relationships to process emotions, share challenges, and offer support to one another.

Third, promote SEL for young people.

Provide consistency in daily routines to foster a sense of safety and predictability.

Listen to young people and support them in building or maintaining a sense of community and connection.

Incorporate social and emotional skill-building into learning (such as CASEL's SEL 3 Signature Practices).

Fourth, reflect on how things are going and adjust as you learn.

Listen to students, families, and your wider community of stakeholders as valuable sources of information about what is or isn't working.

Analyze results with a lens of equity to meet needs using our SEL Data Reflection Protocol

How is CASEL advancing this work?
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Guidance on School Transitions and Reopening

To aid in this time of continued transitions, CASEL collaborated with more than 40 partners to illuminate a way forward through Reunite, Renew, Thrive: SEL Roadmap for Reopening School (July 2020), centered on relationships and built on the existing strengths of a school community. As we prepared for Spring 2021, we offered three strategies adapted from the SEL Roadmap to re-examine efforts for a successful second semester: Refocus on the SEL Roadmap: Actions for a Successful Second Semester (January 2021).

CASEL CARES Webinar Series

In response to the pandemic, CASEL mobilized to provide social and emotional support to our communities and share best practices through an initiative called CASEL CARES. We offered weekly practical guidance and information on topics that were sourced from the field and relevant to the needs of today. Our CASEL CARES Webinars covered a wide range of SEL topics and attracted more than 100,000 people. View the on-demand series

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The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated feelings of isolation, stress, loss, and more among young people, adults, families, and communities. Social and

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In my last article, I wrote about ways that we can get to know our students in virtual and hybrid courses. I also did a webinar on building a community online. You can watch it on replay here. One of the best ways to build relationships is through frequent one-on-one check-ins. In this article, we explore ideas for how to make the most out of these quick check-ins so that students feel known and understood, even when they are working at a distance.

Listen to the Podcast

If you enjoy this blog but you'd like to listen to it on the go, just click on the audio below or subscribe via Apple Podcasts (ideal for iOS users) on Stitcher (ideal for Android users), on Amazon Podcasts, or on Spotify.

https://johnspencer.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Power-of-Checkins-2.mp3

The Power of a Check-In

During the pandemic, many students described feeling lonely and isolated as they shifted into online environments. So much of the classroom experience is designed around face-to-face experiences. However, without the in-person interaction, students often felt like they were no longer connected. In some cases, students began to check out.

This isn't surprising.

Over two decades ago, researchers Anderson and Garrison demonstrated that success in an online course depended on the relationship between the student and the content, the student and the instructor, and the student and classmates. When students fail to connect with their instructor or with their classmates, they disengage. This disengagement results in lower attendance, lower assignment completion, and lower achievement. In other words, by every metric imaginable, students learn less and perform worse when they aren't connecting with others. On a more human level, students need to connect relationally to their classmates and their teacher.

When schools shift to remote learning courses, certain students who would normally do well in person end up struggling to manage their time and get started on their learning. They get distracted and fail to develop deep work habits that can lead to success. Here, students might even fail to show up to class video conferences or respond to emails. They turn in work significantly late and at a lower quality than they would if they were in a physical classroom. Without the teacher present and the reminder of accountability, these students disengage. In other words, they fail to connect with the content, with their classmates, and with the teacher. However, distance learning doesn't mean we have to be distant on a relational or social level. As teachers, we can be intentional about creating a sense of presence with our students through short check-ins.

These check-ins might focus on social-emotional elements, such as wellness, emotional status, and social connected-ness. This type of check-in can be as simple as a "How are you doing right now?" or "How are you doing with distance learning?" It might even begin with a short conversation about a student's life, such as, "How is dance going for you?" or "What video games are you into?" These little questions can send the message that you care about your students and you want to know how they are doing. Other times, it might be a more in-depth check-in with a student, a caretaker, and the school counselor or psychologist.

Other times, the check-in might have a more academic focus. You might ask students questions about their hybrid learning experiences, including how they are navigating their courses, how they are managing their time, and how they are handling the workload. This is often when you address issues of late work or a lack of engagement. In these moments, it's important to listen first and then help students develop a plan of action. In some cases, you might ask students about the social elements of school, including how they are getting along with their group members or how well connected they feel to the classroom community.

In some cases, these academic check-ins might relate more closely to the class assignments and projects. You might provide some targeted help for students who are struggling. You might need to clarify misconceptions and provide students with additional resources or scaffolds. You might also help students set and track specific academic goals.

We can conceptualize these check-ins on a continuum with the social-emotional check-ins on the more personal side and the targeted tutoring on the more academic side.

In general, teachers tend to focus on the personal elements first and move toward the more academic approach later. However, some students are doing well emotionally and really want a check-in to be academically focused. It's why there's no single right way to approach this. In some cases, a conversation begins on an academic level and then shifts toward a more social-emotional side as students share how they're actually doing. Ultimately, this is where you are the expert as a teacher. You know how to connect with students and parents or guardians in a way that is approachable but also professional.

Nine Types of Virtual Check-Ins

Here are a few ideas that I've found helpful:

1. Social-emotional pulse check: You can do this as a warm-up activity in your video conference / class meeting. You might begin with an open-ended question like, "How are you handling hybrid learning?" Students might meet with small breakout rooms or share their answers in the chat. Other times, you might create a more structured pulse check with something like, "Tell me two wins for the week and one disappointment." It can even be creative, where you have students create a superhero name or a band name. Some teachers have done emoji check-ins where students share an emoji to represent how they are doing. Others have created emotions chart with pop cultural references. Still others have had students sketch what's on their mind or what's on their heart by drawing inside of a mind shape or a heart shape. This really depends on the age, the class culture, and the subject you teach.

2. Video updates: This starts with a teacher-created video. In the first week, you can do an on boarding video of the course and explain how it will work. But after that, you can create a weekly short video with a preview of what students will do. Although prerecorded, these short, unstructured videos create a sense of presence for you as a teacher. You can then ask a specific check-in question and have students send an email or fill out a survey.

3. Video check-ins: While it helps to create videos for students, we can also encourage students to create their own video reflections and either post them to Flipgrid or email them directly to the teacher. You might give students a specific prompt or provide options of multiple prompts and encourage each student to select their own prompt. Video check-ins allow students to share how their doing with body language and voice. However, the fact that they can re-record a video allows them to have a sense of control over the process.

4. Small group check-ins: Here, you can schedule small group meeting and use video conferencing to meet with groups and look at their progress. You might have students engage in the mastermind group format as a way to share their academic goals or project progress. Other times, you might create small groups that function as a peer advisory / check-in.

5. Email check-ups: You can send out a whole class email with expectations, deadlines, etc. You might also send a short email to each student asking how they're doing. If you have 180 students in a class, rotate with 18 per day and make sure each student gets an individual email every other week. While this can feel overwhelming, you can create a template and personalize it.

6. Short text check-ins: With this option, you can ask students to use the chat function to send questions or comments as they work on various projects. Some classes might even use an option like Slack or Voxer so that the check-ins remain largely asynchronous.

7. Surveys: Ask students to fill out a course survey each week where they share what their experiences have been in a distance learning or hybrid course. These surveys tend to center on student course experience but you can also include a few questions that deal with social-emotional learning. It's important to avoid survey fatigue, so you might want to limit the surveys to 3-5 questions.

8. Scheduled conferences: You can schedule one-on-one video conferences with students where you guide reflection and do quick social-emotional learning check-ins. I love doing short five-minute conferences and allowing students to select between feedback conferences (where I provide help), reflection conferences (where I ask reflective questions), or assessment conferences (where I give feedback on mastery).

9. Phone calls: This is my least favorite option because I'm an introvert and generally dislike talking on the phone. However, given the challenges students sometimes experience with internet connectivity, sometimes the best option is a simple phone call to see how a student is doing.

At this point, these options might feel overwhelming. This is why it helps to experiment with the process until you find your groove. It also helps to ask students about their preferences for check-ins.

Poll Students for Ideal Check-in Processes

As an educator, you can honor student agency by asking them their preferences for check-ins. Students can submit their answers in an online form or in a short interview that you do a the beginning of the year. After students have submitted it, you can look at the spreadsheet and divide up your primary way of communicating with each student. This process sends the message that you value each student's input in their preferred approach to communication. As a result, they have a greater sense of control over frequency and method of communication. This can also free up your time to be more efficient with your communication. Not every student wants daily or weekly personalized check-ins. Some students prefer a short 3-question survey in a weekly email. Other students might need a phone call every other week.

The following questions can help guide the process:

How can I help you? What are some areas where you might need support? What are some challenges you might have in remote learning?

When is the best time to reach you?

How often do you want me to communicate with you?

What is your preferred method of communication? Do you prefer email? Chat? Phone call? Video conference?

What type of feedback do you prefer on your work? Video feedback? Audio feedback? Comments that are typed?

What is something former teachers have done that helped you feel known and appreciated?

What is something former teachers have done that helped you stay on track in your course?

However, this is also a two-way process and you might need to help students clarify expectations. You might send an email to a student affirming their desire for frequent communication but also explaining that daily one-on-one communication might be unrealistic.

Communicating Your Availability

Although it's important to take the initiative as the educator, it can also help to encourage students to take the initiative as well. We want to empower students to be self-advocates. As the instructor, you might provide the ideal process for asking questions, giving feedback, and reaching out to you with questions. When crafting a course syllabus, you can create a category for communicating with the teacher or professor. This category can include reasonable methods (an email, online form, office phone number), reasonable times, and expectations for when you will get back to students.

For example, as a professor, you might have the following:
Please feel free to reach out if you have questions. I am glad to help. Office hours are by appointment only. Please schedule video conference office hour meetings using the online Google form in our LMS. Please feel free to email me at any time. I will be sending email updates to check in on you and I want you to feel free to let me know if you have any questions. You can also use the chat feature in Slack or the Voxer walkie-talkie app. You can generally expect a response to an email, chat, or message within twenty-four hours. I generally end my day at 5 pm, so I will likely respond to a late-night email the next morning or afternoon.
However, if you are a fifth grade teacher, you might include a communication explanation in a newsletter you send to students and families:
Please feel free to reach out if you have questions. I am glad to help. Please schedule video conference office hour meetings using the scheduling link in our LMS (Canvas platform). If your parents or guardians would like to schedule a meeting, they can use the same form or they can send me an email or message me directly through Remind. You can generally expect a response to an email or message within twenty-four hours. If you have questions on an assignment and it's due the next day, please remember that you can always resubmit assignments after I have given feedback. Also, we will have virtual study hall sessions available to the entire class. I will be sending you a weekly check-in and it will be really important that you read and respond each time.

Notice how both paragraphs communicate availability but also boundaries. They make it clear that you are present but they also ask students to initiate conversations. It also sets the tone for future communication. Students can expect check-ins.

It's About Empowerment

Ultimately, the issue of student engagement is an issue of self-direction. When students fail to show up or turn in their work, they are often failing to be self-directed in their learning. As teachers, we can empower students to own the learning process. However, this begins with building relationships and checking in on students. When students feel known and respected, they are more likely to engage in meaningful projects that build on voice and choice. These check-ins can help build student agency and a sense of belonging in the larger community. In my last article, I wrote about how we can get to know students in virtual and hybrid environments. However, I also have a virtual learning hub with resources, articles, and webinars. I'm also working on the finishing touches on a book about empowering students in distance and hybrid learning. I can't wait to share it with you!

If you want to take a deeper dive into empowering students in distance learning, please check out my course. It's fully self-paced and on-demand, which means you can work on it at your own pace. It's packed with videos and practical resources. The course is designed to take 15 hours and I offer district and school bulk license discounts. My friend A.J. Juliani also has a great course about online and hybrid learning. As an affiliate, I get a portion of his course sales and I also have access to the 20% off coupon code. Simply type Spencer at checkout and the 20% off will be applied automatically.

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The Power of Student Check-Ins During Distant Learning and Hybrid Courses

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In my last article, I wrote about ways that we can get to know our students in virtual and hybrid courses. I also did a webinar on building a community online. You can watch it on replay here. One of the best ways to build relationships is through frequent one-on-one check-ins.

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RTW How to Make a Copy of The Distance Learning Check-in

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I love teaching middle school, especially 7th grade. The kids are goofy, energetic, and super squirrels (...squirrel!). They're also pre-teens, and trying to fit into the limbo world where they're not quite kids, but not quite teenagers. Many of my kids have faced challenging family situations that preoccupy their thoughts while in school.

Knowing things are sometimes distracting outside of class, whether it is friends, family, or both, I start my class with a warm-up. This is usually a silent individual activity that activates prior knowledge, or asks students to review what they learned last class.

In April 2015, I changed the way I did my warm-ups. And I had major positive results. Immediately.

I implemented the Daily Check-in Form. I still called it a warm-up, but the purpose expanded to ask students about their day.
Before we continue, please fill it out here.
Your warm-up questions are:

1. Who do you teach?

2. What made you interested in this blog post topic?

3. How do you currently start your class periods, meetings, or workshops?

Ok, now that you filled it out, let's continue. (If you didn't fill it out, go back and do so. It's good for you to actually go through the experience, not just open up the link!)

When students arrive for class, they line up in 2 silent, straight, and smiling lines outside. I invite them in, and they walk in silently (we don't do it right, it's back outside to do it over), and begin their warm-up on their iPad. I have a set of Slides for each lesson, and the first Slide is always the warm-up questions.

I reuse the same Form everyday and for all classes. At the end of the week, I hide the previous week's rows on Sheets.

Three check-in questions with running averages.

I know some of you are asking, why are you SO strict on coming in silently? Two reasons: First, it helps my students settle in and make the transition to class time. Second, it helps me setting in and make the transition to teaching. I use that time to take attendance, quickly check in with individual students, and skim their warm-up answers.

From this daily warm-up, I have learned many essential things about my students, from death of family members or arguments with friends, to excitement over weekend plans or their deep love of tacos. These are things my students may have been too shy to tell me, or I likely would not have taken the time to listen to their needs.

Screenshot of the Sheet. I use conditional formatting

to make it easier to skim how students are feeling.

If there's a concern, I'll pull the student aside during class and chat privately about what they shared. If they rank their day as a 1, then I'll make sure I make it over to their desk more frequently, offer a friendly smile, and start a conversation. (I don't take them aside, unless they show additional signs of being upset or stressed in class.)

The day I first implemented this warm-up, I learned that my student's uncle died the week prior. Over the next three weeks, she lost three more people close to her. Because she willingly shared this with me, I was able to support her emotionally in class, and refer her to our counselors for additional support. I am 100% positive this prevented serious behaviors in my class, because she had struggled all year with attitude and off-task behavior.

When I present at conferences and workshops, I often start my session with an identical Form-I ask about participants' prior knowledge on the topic and goals for the session. I feel like this helps me connect to my participants in the limited time we have.

I'm grateful for this simple tool that has helped me build community in my classroom!

Love this idea? Here's the Form template.

Have fun with the Form, make it work for you, and please share!

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

[CC BY-NC-SA]

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I love teaching middle school, especially 7th grade. The kids are goofy, energetic, and super squirrels (...squirrel!). They're also pre-teens, and trying to fit into the limbo world where they're not quite kids, but not quite teenagers. Many of my kids have faced challenging family situations that preoccupy their thoughts while in school.

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Mentimeter.com is a wonderful tool where students respond at ment.com. There are graphs, word bubbles, ranking and more in the free site. Limited # of questions.

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CALM used to offer free lifetime accounts for teachers. Not sure if they do still. Students love mindfulness, even online. 3 minutes before class sets the tones, calms them down, and helps control stress and anxiety.

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Skip to main content

Join 250,000+ teachers bringing mindfulness to the next generation

Join the movement

"If every 8 year old is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation."

- Dalai Lama

Discover what's possible if every school day began with a few moments of mindfulness. Together let's equip students with tools for resilience, self-care, and stress management.

Join the movement

Age-specific resources to help you bring mindfulness into the classroom

A self-care guide to support you during the school day and beyond

A free sampling of meditations, music, Sleep Stories, breathing exercises and more

Get Started

Get Started

Just as we put on our oxygen mask first, we can best support the health and happiness of others by taking care of ourselves first.

Meditate regulary to reduce stress, prevent burnout and improve your relationships with students, parents and colleagues.

Listen to Calm Music and Sleep Stories at the end of a busy day to help you wind down and fall asleep with ease.

Start today

Lauren Daly Clark

@msdalyLST

When given a choice today, this kiddo wanted to hear more from @KingJames himself on "managing emotions". Thank you @calm for opening this door for us. This was truly a special moment today ❤️✨

Miss Epstein

@MissEEpstein

I often use @calm during writing sessions at school. There are lots of relaxing instrumentals that help my children to focus (they also know that if I can't hear my music, they're too loud). They love it. Today I'm using it as relaxing background noise whilst reading. 😌

Feeling stressed or anxious? I encourage you to take time to breathe and meditate. @calm is a wonderful resource that I've used by myself and with students for years. Free for educators. #meditate

Join the movement

Thank you, teachers!

You make a difference in the world.

Get started

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Join 250,000+ teachers bringing mindfulness to the next generation.

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https://classroomscreen.com/

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Google Forms - create and analyze surveys, for free.

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How To Play "Would You Rather" For Teens 🤓

You can play "Would you rather" in pairs or in a group. The rules of the game are super simple. Here is how it works:

One of you begins by asking another person a "Would you rather" questions, for example: "Would you rather be immortal or have 9 lives?". The other player must then choose between the two options. So either he/she decides to be immortal or to have 9 lives.

If you play in a group, you can also set the rule that everyone in the group has to answer every question. So nobody can avoid a question.

The aim of the game is to have fun. And we guarantee you will have it!

List Of "Would You Rather" Questions For Teens

The most important thing about the game is the questions. Since even the most creative people run out of ideas for questions at some point, we have compiled a list of the best "Would You Rather" questions for teens.

Best "Would You Rather" Questions For Teens ⭐️

We start with our absolute favorites. Some questions will make you think about your life, and others will make you laugh.

1. Would you rather date someone unattractive with a great personality, or date someone very attractive with a bad personality?

2. Would you rather live an extra 25 years or live a life without the need to sleep?

3. Would you rather be able to teleport anywhere or be able to read minds?

4. Would you rather have the ability to rewind to a previous time in your life or have the ability to fast forward to a later time in your life?

5. Would you rather have to end every sentence with a racial slur or have to drop two f-bombs in every sentence?

6. Would you rather go on a double date with your parents or with your partner's parents?

7. Would you rather live your entire life in a virtual reality where all your wishes are granted or live your whole life in the real world?

8. Would you rather have slow but unlimited Internet or paid but limited Internet?

9. Would you rather burp confetti or fart glitter?

10. Would you rather give up AC and heating for the rest of your life or give up the Internet for the rest of your life?

11. Would you rather be able to read minds or to predict the future?

12. Would you rather look 10 years older from the neck up, or the neck down?

13. Would you rather have 20 million YouTube subscribers or produce a blockbuster action movie?

14. Would you rather lose the ability to read or lose the ability to speak?

15. Would you rather kill one human being or 50 baby animals?

16. Would you rather be born in the past or in the future?

17. Would you rather only use TikTok for the rest of your life or only use YouTube for the rest of your life?

18. Would you rather get completely drunk after one alcoholic drink or never be able to get drunk?

19. Would you rather be in jail for five years or be in a coma for five years?

20. Would you rather know how you die or when you die?

21. Would you rather flirt with your crush using emojis while texting or using memes while texting?

22. Would you rather have everyone laugh at your jokes, but not find anyone else's jokes funny or have no one laugh at your jokes, but you still find other people's jokes funny?

23. Would you rather have free Wi-Fi wherever you go or be able to drink unlimited free coffee at any coffee shop?

24. Would you rather have all dogs try to attack you when they see you or all birds try to attack you when they see you?

25. Would you rather share your home with a bunch of rats, or live with your parents forever?

26. Would you rather dip your foot in acid or set your foot on fire?

27. Would you rather have all of your shirts one size too small or have all of your shirts two sizes too big?

28. Would you rather have a boomerang that finds and kills any person of your choice, but can only be used once or a boomerang that always returns to you with one dollar?

29. Would you rather clog the toilet at your workplace (school) or at your crush's house?

30. Would you rather be able to remember everything you see or remember everything you hear?

Funny "Would You Rather" Questions For Teens 😂

Here is a list of funny, weird, and sometimes embarrassing "Would you rather" questions.

1. Would you rather always look like you are 8 months pregnant or always have a black eye?

2. Would you rather stop showering or stop brushing your teeth?

3. Would you rather only be able to speak via a translator or only speak when asked a question?

4. Would you rather not wear shoes for the rest of your life or not drive a car for the rest of your life?

5. Would you rather be captured by a wild tribe in the jungle or be captured by pirates at sea?

6. Would you rather pee in a litter box or drink a cup of toilet water?

7. Would you rather be naked all the time or never leave your house/apartment?

8. Would you rather have a beer belly or have three chins?

9. Would you rather be unable to wash your hair for a month or shave your legs for a month?

10. Would you rather always fart in colors or always fart loudly?

11. Would you rather have a head the size of a tennis ball or have a head the size of a watermelon?

12. Would you rather only wear used underwear or only use strangers' toothbrushes?

13. Would you rather have the brightness on your phone stuck on low, or the volume on your phone stuck on low?

14. Would you rather pee every time you stand up or poop every time you sit down?

15. Would you rather wear the same socks for a month or the same underwear for a week?

16. Would you rather have to fart loudly whenever you have a serious conversation or have to burp after every kiss?

17. Would you rather get diarrhea on a first date or run into your parents on a first date?

18. Would you rather always have uncontrollable gas at school or always have uncontrollable gas on every first date for the rest of your life?

19. Would you rather have hands that kept growing as you got older or have feet that kept growing as you got older?

20. Would you rather always feel like you have to sneeze or always feel like you have to poop?

21. Would you rather find $5 on the ground or find all of your missing socks?

22. Would you rather everyone be required to wear identical silver jumpsuits or any time two people meet and are wearing an identical article of clothing, they must fight to the death?

23. Would you rather every shirt you wear to be itchy or only be able to use one ply of toilet paper?

24. Would you rather have an elephant-sized hamster or a hamster-sized elephant?

25. Would you rather take cold showers every day for the rest of your life or eat only cold food for the rest of your life?

26. Would you rather never wash your sheets ever again or only be able to shower once every two weeks?

27. Would you rather have eyes the size of a baseball or have eyes the size of a pea?

28. Would you rather eat a dead rat or eat 20 live spiders?

29. Would you rather be allergic to babies or be allergic to elderly people?

30. Would you rather lose all your memories or go blind?

Good "Would You Rather" Questions For Teens 🤔

This list contains interesting and thought-provoking questions that you probably wouldn't usually ask yourself.

1. Would you rather always be late or always be on time, but unprepared for most activities?

2. Would you rather have supernatural strength or have supernatural intelligence?

3. Would you rather have a high salary in a job you hate or have a low salary in a job you love?

4. Would you rather be Iron Man, but have to leave the suit on at all times or be the Hulk, but have to stay in hulk form at all times?

5. Would you rather never be able to go out during the day or during the night?

6. Would you rather control your dreams or watch them the next day?

7. Would you rather have a horrible short-term memory or have a horrible long-term memory?

8. Would you rather live with no electronics or live with no friends?

9. Would you rather always speak all your thoughts out loud or never speak again (even in sign language)?

10. Would you rather be able to find anything that was lost or every time you touched someone, they would be unable to lie?

11. Would you rather be alone for the rest of your life or always be surrounded by annoying people?

12. Would you rather infinite battery life for your phone or infinite fuel for your car?

13. Would you rather have a completely automated home or have a self-driving car?

14. Would you rather never be able to watch Netflix or Youtube again?

15. Would you rather never use emojis or never read memes for the rest of your life?

16. Would you rather get away with lying every time or always know when someone is lying?

17. Would you rather donate your body to science or donate your organs to people who need them?

18. Would you rather be able to see 5 minutes into the future or be able to see 100 years into the future?

19. Would you rather have everything on your phone right now (browsing history, photos,...) made public to anyone who googles your name or never use a cell phone again?

20. Would you rather be sick for the rest of your life or kill 2 puppies?

21. Would you rather be born again in a totally different life or born again with all the knowledge you have now?

22. Would you rather all plants scream when you cut them or animals beg for their lives before they are killed?

23. Would you rather find true love or cure cancer?

24. Would you rather have no family or no friends?

25. Would you rather spend the rest of your life always cold or spend the rest of your life always exhausted?

26. Would you rather go to jail for 4 years for something you didn't do or get away with something horrible you did, but always live in fear of being caught?

27. Would you rather have a clown only you can see that follows you everywhere and just stands silently in a corner watching you without saying anything or having a real-life stalker who dresses like the Easter Bunny that everyone can see?

28. Would you rather snitch on your best friend for a crime they committed or go to jail for the crime your friend committed?

29. Would you rather be smart but broke or rich and stupid?

30. Would you rather spend one week in the wilderness or one night in a real haunted house?

Would You Rather - Online 📱

If you like to play online, you can do so with our web browser version of "Would You Rather". There you can choose between two categories, "Causal" and "Dirty".
Play Online
Also check out our massive list of over 500 "Would you rather" Questions: 👉 Would You Rather

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90 Fun 'Would You Rather' Questions For Teens

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'Would You Rather' is the perfect icebreaker at any party or first date. With this question game, you never run out of topics to talk about and is therefore ideal for getting to know new people. However, you will see that you can still learn something new about your best friends.

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At first, trying to break the ice with a group of teens can seem like a daunting task. Thankfully, a few of these silly questions should have them giggling in no time! Pick and choose from multiple categories, or find the category that fits best for the occasion.

Technology

Pop Culture
Coordinate snacks for the high school photography club with a sign up. View an Example
Family

Grossed Out
Coordinate baseball team snacks with a sign up. View an Example
School

Food
Recruit volunteers for a youth group retreat with a sign up. View an Example
Fantasy

Future Self

Extracurricular Activities

Dating

A few of these would you rather questions should have your teens cracking up in no time!

Kayla Rutledge is a college student who spends most of her time writing, singing for her church and eating quesadillas.

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fun would you rather questions for teens clubs groups youth

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100 Would You Rather Questions for Teens

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At first, trying to break the ice with a group of teens can seem like a daunting task. Thankfully, a few of these silly questions should have them giggling in no time! Pick and choose from multiple categories, or find the category that fits best for the occasion.