First Day of School Questionnaire
First day of school student questionnaires is an important first day of school handout. Many teachers find the amount of paperwork of questionnaires inundating, but there are many advantages to distributing back to school questionnaires. The topics can be multitudinous and the advantages are equally beneficial, especially for a preservice teacher who is starting with a new class.
When a student is given a questionnaire during the first few days of school, it gives him or her a feeling of importance and the teacher considers his or her needs in the classroom. A dialogue can open allowing a more healthy exchange of information between teacher and student.
First Day of School Tips
Some students will reveal to you information, others will not. Be prepared. Many students need to develop a trust with the teacher and aren't sure if the questionnaires will be taken seriously. This of course, is part of a new teacher's orientation to learning about his or her class.
You however as a new teacher, can discuss how you intend to use the results of the students' questionnaires in class. For example, if your intention is to evaluate the students' reading habits and abilities, you can inform the class that this new information will help you cater to the lsson and ultimately, raise their reading abilties. This site has three types of questionnaires including multiple learning styles, that are especially helpful in getting to know the learners in your classroom.
Other Types of First Day of School Student Questionnaires
- how students spent their summer vacation
- personal details and expectations for the school year
- reading abilities and habits (a good preliminary first day of school handout for developing a reading plan)
School student questionnaires can also include a personal identification form which includes basic information (not too personal) that can include important information such as special requests and abilities. Some students feel more comfortable writing about their learning difficulties and habits.
You could include sentences such as:
- I need texts read out to me.
- I need extra time on tests and quizzes.
- I have test anxiety.
- I need the text recorded to me on a tape recorder.
You can also leave a few blank lines for the students to include anything else that was on written on the handout. This adds for the personal touch.
Over to You.
Take a look at one of the first day of school student questionnaires that you prepared for your class. Look at it in light of your students. Is it very general and basic or does it provide some in-depth information that gives you a more well-rounded and adequate picture of your students' abilities. Try to open it up a bit. If you aren't sure, take a look at a few of the examples at the site suggested above. Students appreciate it when questions relate to them!
If you have any questions regarding how this should be done, please don't hesitate to email me. I'll be glad to answer any questions or concerns in a very timely fashion.
Writer's Note:
Make sure you reassure students in that you will not reveal any of the information and it is for you only. This helps develops trust and ensures ongoing learning.
Dorit Sasson - Hello! I'm an ESL instructor, teacher diversity coach and writer for the educational markets who writes on English language learners ...
