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What can we do those first weeks of middle school math to get to know our students and prepare them for the school year? This is an exciting time for your students as they navigate their new classes and find friends they haven’t seen all summer. How can you begin the school year and cover all of those “beginning of the year” tasks?
ICE-BREAKERS
A favorite ice-breaker in Middle School is “2 Truths and a Lie”. Each students comes up with 2 true facts about themselves and one lie. The other students must try to guess which of the 3 statements are true. This is fun for the students and it helps them get to know each other in those first days. The teacher can join the game, so students can connect and get to know you in a really fun activity. They also get a kick out of having permission to tell a lie!
Another favorite, and a fun way to familiarize your students with the new classroom, is a scavenger hunt. Make a list of items students need to search to find in the classroom. They can work with a partner to find the bathroom pass, graph paper and other supplies, or the posted daily schedule. This is much more fun than just standing in front of the class and reciting a list to your students.
And how about Student Bingo? Make copies of a grid with different items in each square. You can write in things like “Plays an Instrument”, “Has a Pet”, or “Likes Pineapple on Pizza”. Pass out one Bingo grid to each student. Let them mingle and learn about each other, filling each square with a student name that matches that characteristic. See who can get 5 in a row first! This gives them a task so they are not just wandering the room talking. Give a prize for the first 3 students to get 5 names in a row!
Divide students into small groups for Rotation Stations. Each station will have a different activity. One station might have students getting their student planner and writing all of their personal information on page one. They could rotate to another station where they fill out a student survey, or read and sign the syllabus. Another station could have students give their own input into classroom rules. (Students are more likely to follow the rules when they have a part in creating them.) This could also be a great chance to establish math station rules, and how to rotate efficiently.
INTRODUCING RULES
- Teachers with the fewest discipline problems tend to spend most of the first two weeks of school teaching specific rules and procedures. They make sure students know the rule for nearly every action students will take in the classroom.
- The first rule you teach students in the school year is how to walk into your classroom. Do you allow students to walk in any way they please? Do you let them stand around talking to friends until the bell rings, and then nag them to get in their seats? You are teaching them from day one how you will allow them to do this. Show them over and over again how to walk into the classroom, sit down and get to work. Do you have a bellwork assignment so they must get right to work?
- You must teach every task students will perform. What do they do when they need a pencil, or need to sharpen a pencil? What is the procedure for asking questions? Can they get out of their seat? When is this allowed? Can they talk to others? When is this allowed? How do they transition from one activity to another? All of these things must be taught in those first weeks.
ASSESSING STUDENT MATH PROFICIENCY
At some point you need to assess what students know and what skills you need to review. It’s important to make sure students are ready for more advanced topics. Not only are many students behind in their grade level, but because of the long summer months, you must test to see what concepts need to be retaught. How can you make this fun for the students? And how can you determine what needs to be reviewed? Every class, every year is different!
Challenge your students to show you what they know. When I was back in the classroom, I offered digital games with instant feedback. A pre-assessment was given first, and then I challenged students to improve their scores after playing the digital game . The posttest was given next and students had a chance to show what they learned.
If you use this method to assess, you can post the names of the students who improve their scores from the pretest. Let them choose a small prize from a treasure box, or toss a Jolly Rancher to those students. Make it a fun challenge!
HOW DOES IT WORK?
I created several digital assessment games for my math classes. They are great fun, and can be done independently. Just make sure students are playing in “Slideshow” mode so the game is in full screen. There are five different topics covered from the previous school year. Students must get every question correct before they can move on to the next topic. Students click on a multiple choice answer, and know immediately if their answer is correct. If incorrect, they must move back to the beginning of that topic and try again. If the answer is correct, they automatically move to the next question. As they move to the next topic, they can see their progress in the game. When they finish all five topics, they will get a congratulatory screen with their completed board. Remind them of the reward for improving their scores!
Students will have fun, and teachers now have valuable data to start the new school year!
Try the Google Slides Assessment Game that matches your grade level:
6th Grade Game 7th Grade Game 8th Grade Game
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