# data[].attributes.body
At the end of a lesson, give everyone a sheet of paper. On that paper, each student should write down two stars, or things that they understood or liked learning about during class. Then the students should write down one wish, or something they aren't clear on or wish they knew more about. Have the students hand in their sheets of paper before they leave class. A great way for teachers to see what might still be confusing to students. This formative assessment tool can be used with grades 5 and up This formal data collection is qualitative.

# data[].attributes.body
Write a few multiple choice questions with 4 options for the answers. Then after a lesson, engage your students in some movement with a game of 4 corners. Have all of the students stand in the middle of the room, read the question out loud, and give them 10-15 seconds to get to the corner that corresponds to their answer. Be sure to label each corner with A,B,C & D, or make it clear each time which corner is which! This is informal collection of data that can be used with 2nd grade and up.

# data[].attributes.body
Instead of giving questions or problems to students to answer, give each student a piece of paper. Then start a timer for 1 minute. In that 1 minute each student should write as much as they can about the topic that you tell them. This is a quick check of students' understanding. If possible, do this once at the beginning of class, and then again at the end of class. This will give a good idea of how learning has improved. This formal data collection is qualitative data because students are writing a short paper. This is a good strategy to use with students in grades grades 5 and up.

# data[].attributes.body
Place students into groups (size of your choice) and give them some questions/problems to work on together. After the groups have a chance to work together on all of the problems, give each student in the group a new number. Then, have students move to a new location with new people to talk about the problems they worked on earlier. This gives students the chance to hear other perspectives on how to answer the questions/problems. This formal data collection can be  quantitative or qualitative based on the questions given to the groups. This is a good strategy to use with students in 4th grade and up.

# data[].attributes.body
A fun way to allow students to use technology while assessing their learning is to make a Kahoot. Put together some multiple choice questions and create your own mini quiz. Students get points from getting answers correct and also gives them the chance to anonymously answer questions to assess their learning. If your classroom has access to laptops, iPads, or other technology that every student can use, this is a great technique to see how your students are doing! This is informal data collection, and can be used with 3rd graders and up if the technology is present.

# data[].attributes.body
Check for understanding with a warm up or a wrap up question on the board. Give students a few minutes to think about the problem or question, then ask them to write their answer on the board. Review the question/problem after everyone has written their answer up on the board. It is often fun for students to be allowed to write on the board during class. This data collection is informal and can be qualitative or quantitative. The students do not write their name with their response, however if they do, this activity can be changed to collect formal data.

# data[].attributes.body
Sometimes writing down what they have learned can get old for students. Try asking students to doodle what they have learned instead! This gives students the chance to display their learning while having the chance to display creativity. This is considered appropriate for 1st-5th graders. Qualitative data is collected with this formal data collection strategy.

# data[].attributes.body
At the end of class or the end of a lesson, students have the opportunity to address misconceptions for the lesson. Give each student a piece of paper and ask them each to write 3 things that someone might misunderstand about a topic. Have students share some of the misconceptions they listed and explain what would be the correct alternative. This helps students be able to explain a concept, improving their understanding, but also helps clear up confusion for some students. This is a great technique to use with 3rd graders and up. This is formal data collection and can be considered qualitative or quantitative based on the questions asked.

# data[].attributes.body
Students' knowledge of a unit/topic can be assessed through the whiteboard technique. If available, each student will use their own mini whiteboard. The teacher can place a question on the board for students to answer. When prompted, the students all raise their whiteboards at the same time. Teachers can then see which students are understanding the questions on the board, and who may need some more time before understanding the topic. Students in 3rd grade and up are able to use this method. This is informal data collection that can be both qualitative and quantitative based on the questions asked.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Welcome back to our blog series on formative assessment.

We've introduced the Popsicle Stick method and the Exit Ticket, two great ways to involve all students and get the information you need to make adjustments to your teaching. Ideas like these have been proven to increase student learning.
A simple way to hear every voice
Ready for our third idea? It's called the Whiteboard.

The Whiteboard technique can engage your entire class and provide helpful evidence of student learning.

Your students can use their whiteboard to provide an answer or information by simply writing their idea down and raising their board so you can read it.

Every student will need a small whiteboard at their desk. Luckily they're fairly inexpensive and can even be found at your local dollar store.

Your students can use their whiteboard to provide an answer or information by simply writing their idea down and raising their board so you can read it. That makes it easy for you to quickly grasp student understanding and adjust how you move forward.
Learn more
A tablet can act in a similar fashion. But, as Dylan Wiliam said, "The greatest modern invention for learning might well be the personal whiteboard." Whatever you use, just remember: It doesn't have to be fancy. As long as you're able to solicit evidence of student understanding and comprehension of the lesson at hand, the technique has done the trick.

Get more formative assessment tips and tricks in our e-book "Making it work: How formative assessment can supercharge your practice."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Classroom Techniques: Formative Assessment Idea Number Three

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Formative assessment strategies and ideas that involve all students and provide the teacher with evidence of student learning and understanding improve student learning. Read our blog to learn more.

# data[].attributes.body
Students are given questions about topics learned in class. First, they have time to write down their answers individually. Next, they have the chance to talk with a partner about their answers. Then, the students have the chance to share with a bigger group or the whole class. This method can be used with grades 3 and up and this is formal quantitative or qualitative data collection based on the questions given out.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Classroom Techniques: Formative Assessment Idea Number Five

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Think-Pair-Share is a formative assessment technique that helps engage the entire class while providing the teacher with evidence of student understanding. Read our blog to learn more.

# data[].attributes.body
This activity allows students to move around the room while sharing information about their likes and dislikes. Come up with a list of questions such as "Dogs or cats?" or "City or country?". Then read these options to your students and designate each side of the room as one of the options. Students will then move to the side of the classroom that matches their answers. This activity works well with 5th grade and up. This could be personal, cultural, or community asset based on what types of questions you ask.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Icebreakers that Rock | Cult of Pedagogy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Too many classroom icebreakers require students to take big social risks with people they barely know. Or they don’t really help students get to know each other. Or they are just plain cheesy.

# data[].attributes.body
Have the students fill in the puzzle pieces in the sheet you give them. The questions you ask can be about their favorite things, places, etc.This activity is great for students from K-2 grade and allows for creativity. This can include personal, cultural, and community assets depending on the questions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'Pieces of Me' - Get To Know Your Students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Perfect for a first day activity. Round up all your students and have them fill this out and interact with each other to compare similarities and differences. Then you can keep the sheets for later to get to know your new class! Illustrated b...

# data[].attributes.body
Place students in groups and have them share a few facts about each other. List questions to ask on the board. Give the students time to talk with each other. At the end of the given time, have each group come up to the front of the room and share their facts about each other to the rest of the class. This gives students the chance to talk with each other and learn some new information about each other. This activity is good for students in 4th grade and up. This focuses on personal, cultural, and community assets based on what kind of questions you prompt.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
TeachersFirst's First Day of School Icebreakers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
No matter what level you teach, establishing rapport with a new group of students is key to knowing how to help them learn. Here is a list of reviewed resources that offer a chance for you and your students to get to know one another.

# data[].attributes.body
Write 5 questions on the white board- they can include questions like "What is your birthday?". Hand out an index card to each student and have them write their name and answer the questions. Collect the index cards, and now you have a student dictionary. The student dictionary gives teachers quick access to basic information about their students. Works best with students in 4th grade and up. This focuses on personal and cultural assets for students.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
One of Education World's most popular features returns this year with 19 new getting-to-know-you icebreakers for the first days of school!
It's time to make a fresh start. You've done some summer reading on classroom management, and you're eager to try out some new ideas. You've learned from past mistakes, and you look forward this year to avoiding those mistakes. Most fun of all, the opening days of school are an opportunity to get to know a whole new group of kids!

What will you do during those first few days of school? What activities might you do to help you get to know your new students? What activities will help students get to know you and one another?

For the last three years, Education World has presented a new group of getting-to-know-you ideas -- or icebreakers -- for those first days of school. Here are 19 ideas -- ideas tried and tested by Education World readers -- to help develop classroom camaraderie during the opening days of school.
Opening-Day Letter
Write a letter to your students. In that letter, introduce yourself to students. Tell them about your hopes for the new school year and some of the fun things you'll be doing in class. In addition, tell students a few personal things about yourself; for example, your likes and dislikes, what you did over the summer, and your hobbies. Ask questions throughout the letter. You might ask what students like most about school, what they did during the summer, what their goals for the new school year are, or what they are really good at. In your letter, be sure to model the correct parts of a friendly letter! On the first day of school, display your letter on an overhead projector. Then pass each student a sheet of nice stationery. Have the students write return letters to you. In this letter, they will need to answer some of your questions and tell you about themselves. This is a great way to get to know each other in a personal way! Variation: Mail the letter to students before school starts, and enclose a sheet of stationery for kids to write you back.
Meg Basker, Harrison Elementary School, South Bend, Indiana

Student Dictionary
Write five questions on the board. Questions might include the following:

What is your name?

Where were you born?

How many brothers or sisters do you have?

What are their names?

Do you have any pets?

Tell students to write those questions on a piece of paper and to add to that paper five more questions they could ask someone they don't know. Pair students, and have each student interview his or her partner and record the responses. Then have each student use the interview responses to write a "dictionary definition" of his or her partner to include in a Student Dictionary. You might model this activity by creating a sample dictionary definition about yourself. For example:

Reynolds, Kim. proper noun. 1. Born in Riverside, California. 2. No brothers or sisters.

Have students bring in small pictures of themselves to paste next to their entries in the Student Dictionary. Bind the definitions into a book, and display it at back-to-school night.
Kim Reynolds, Warwick Elementary School, Fremont, California

Headlines
As part of the normal first-day routine, many teachers have each student fill out a card with such information as name, address, phone number, parents' names and work numbers, and so on. You can use such cards to gather other information too, such as school schedule, why the student signed up for the class, whether the student has a part-time job, and whether he or she has access to the Internet at home. As a final bit of information, ask the student to write a headline that best describes him or her! This headline might be a quote, a familiar expression, or anything else. When students finish filling out the cards, give a little quiz. Ask students to number a sheet of paper from 1 to __, depending on how many students are in the class. Then read aloud the headlines one at a time. Ask students to write the name of the person they think each headline best describes. Who got the highest score?

Bonus! It seems as if parents are contacted only if there is a problem with students. At the end of each grading period, use the home address information to send a postcard to a handful of parents to inform them about how well their child is doing. This might take a little time, but it is greatly appreciated!
Dawn Walters, White House High School, White House, Tennessee

More Quick Getting-To-Know-You Activities

Following are a few more activity ideas that were sent our way:

People Poems
Have each child use the letters in his or her name to create an acrostic poem. For example, Bill could write

Tell students they must include words that tell something about themselves -- for example, something they like to do or a personality or physical trait. Invite students to share their poems with the class. This activity is a fun one that enables you to learn how your students view themselves. Allow older students to use a dictionary or thesaurus. You might also vary the number of words for each letter, according to the students' grade levels.
Bill Laubenberg

Another Poetic Introduction.
Ask students to use the form below to create poems that describe them.

Name ______________________
Title (of poem)_______________
I will never _______________,
I will never ________________,
and I will never ______________.
I will always ______________.

This activity lends itself to being done at the beginning of the school year and again at the end of the year. You and your students will have fun comparing their responses and seeing how the students and the responses have changed.
Contributor Unknown

I Am NOT!
Here's a challenging activity that might help high school teachers learn about students' abilities to think critically. Send students into the school hallways or schoolyard, and ask each to find something that "is completely the opposite of yourself." Option: To widen the area to be explored, provide this activity as homework on the first night of school. When students bring their items back to class, ask each to describe why the item is not like him or her. You'll get a lot of flowers, of course, and students will describe how those flowers are fragrant or soft or otherwise unlike themselves. But you might also get some clever responses, such as the one from a young man who brought in the flip-top from a discarded can; he talked about its decaying outward appearance and its inability to serve a purpose without being manipulated by some other force (and how he was able to serve a purpose on his own).
Joy Ross

More Classroom Icebreaker Activities

Education World®
Copyright © 2011, 2017 Education World

Last updated on 07/17/2017

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Icebreakers Volume 5: Getting To Know You Activities | Ice Breakers | First Day of School Activities | Education World

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One of Education World's most popular features returns this year with 19 new getting-to-know-you icebreakers for the first days of school! It's time to make a fresh start. You've done some summer reading on classroom management, and you're eager to try out some new ideas.

# data[].attributes.body
Create a Bingo board for your new students. Fill the bingo board with statements such as, "Has a pet". Have your students walk around the room and talk to their new classmates and find people who match the boxes on their board. Once everyone has had enough time, come back together and discuss the different boxes. Ask your students about who's names are in their boxes. This is a great way to learn new things about your students while making it fun. You can also include a prize for the first person to get Bingo! This game works with grades 3rd and up. This is personal, community, or cultural assets based on what type of questions you ask.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
TeachersFirst's First Day of School Icebreakers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
No matter what level you teach, establishing rapport with a new group of students is key to knowing how to help them learn. Here is a list of reviewed resources that offer a chance for you and your students to get to know one another.