There was always something special about the start of a new year or semester. Even though it meant rearranging seating charts and setting up new routines, what excited me most was meeting a fresh group of students. I loved that new beginning feeling. It was a chance to build connections, set a positive tone, and create a classroom community from day one. That’s why I always started with fun, low-stress get to know your students activities. They helped my new classes feel comfortable right away. They also gave me valuable insight into who they were as learners and individuals.
Why It’s Important to Get to Know Your Students
At the beginning of each school year, my priority wasn’t jumping into academic lessons; it was building relationships. Taking time to get to know your students sets the stage for everything that follows. The more I learned about their personalities, interests, and goals, the easier it was to create lessons that connected to their lives.
These activities helped me uncover so much more than just fun facts. I learned who thrived on group work, who preferred working independently, and who needed extra encouragement to speak up. I also got to see early glimpses of leadership, creativity, and curiosity in action. It always amazed me how quickly my students opened up when they realized I genuinely cared about who they were.
These activities built an instant community. My students discovered shared interests, started conversations naturally, and began forming friendships that carried through the year. By the time we tackled the first big project or assessment, my students already felt like a team.
My Favorite Get to Know Your Students Resources
Each year, I used a mix of activities that helped me learn about my students in different ways. The three resources below were my go-tos because they were easy to use, required little prep, and worked beautifully for my upper elementary classroom. They helped my students express themselves, reflect on their goals, and feel comfortable sharing who they were from day one.
All About Me Math Version
The Math All About Me worksheet was my favorite way to mix math with personal connection. It was a perfect activity for the first week of a new school year or new semester because it reviewed key number concepts while helping me get to know my students. Each question encourages your kids to express themselves through numbers. They get the chance to think about how many people live in their home, how old they are, what the digits of their phone number add up to, or how many minutes it takes for them to get to school.
Once your students fill in their sheets, you can encourage them to get creative with colors and illustrations. When everyone finishes, hang their pages on the wall under a banner that says “The Math Behind Us.” Those displays became conversation starters for the whole class. All of a sudden, you start hearing, “You have the same birthday month as me!” or “Wow, you’ve traveled to three states!”
You can easily recreate this with a quick print-and-go setup. It’s engaging, math-related, and helps you learn practical information about your students. This activity page is a great way to ease them back into the rhythm of schoolwork.
What I Wish My Teacher Knew
The What I Wish My Teacher Knew activity is another meaningful way to get to know your students. This reflection sheet invites your students to share personal details, hopes, and even challenges that might not come up in regular conversation. And. . . this one works well any time during the year.
You will give each student time to write quietly. In my classroom, I liked to complete this activity over a couple of days. By doing so, students could read through the questions and take time to think about them. I found that students gave more thoughtful answers when they had this extra time. I also made sure to remind them that their responses are private unless they choose to share.
Reading their answers always gave me a deeper understanding of who I was teaching. Some of my students wrote about hobbies or family traditions. Others shared their worries or goals. It helped me see the whole child behind the desk, from their strengths, their struggles, and their unique stories.
This simple activity lays the foundation for a trust that lasts throughout the entire year. Your students will know that you value their voice, and that sense of safety makes a huge difference. I often repeated the same reflection after returning from winter break, as a quick emotional check-in to see how things were going. It’s a powerful, relationship-building tool that we should all try.
Color by Number Reflections
If you want something more colorful and interactive, you’ll want to check out my Color by Number Reflections. This activity was perfect for those first few days of a new year when my students needed something fun but purposeful. Each question has color-coded answer choices. As your students select their answers, they are literally coloring a picture that reflects their personalities and feelings about school.
The questions range from “What’s your favorite subject?” to “What’s something you’re proud of?” As they work, you can walk around the room and start conversations based on their choices. When everyone finishes, you can create a gallery of bright, unique artwork that showcases the diversity and spirit of your class.
I loved displaying these pages on a bulletin board titled “A Colorful Start.” It instantly brightened up the room and reminded my students that their differences were what made our class special. It’s an easy, low-prep way for you to combine reflection, creativity, and connection all in one activity.
Start the Year Off With These Get to Know Your Students Activities
The start of a new year always brought renewed energy and the perfect opportunity to rebuild connections. Taking time to get to know your students isn’t just an opening-week tradition. It is an investment in the months ahead. The relationships built through these activities make classroom management smoother, increase participation, and encourage genuine engagement.
If you’re welcoming new students soon, these three activities are simple but powerful tools to create that sense of belonging from day one. They combine creativity, reflection, and meaningful conversation – all things that make your classroom feel like a community. Each one gives you a glimpse into the wonderful individuals sitting in front of you.
Keep the Momentum Going with Engaging Math Resources
Once you’ve taken time to get to know your students, it’s the perfect moment to dive into meaningful learning experiences that keep that positive energy flowing. Building rapport opens the door for stronger engagement. That’s exactly where your math lessons can shine.
If you’re ready to keep your students excited about learning, head over to my TPT store to explore a variety of engaging, hands-on math resources. You’ll find everything from interactive review activities and math games that make math approachable. These resources are designed to help your students practice skills, collaborate with classmates, and stay motivated all year long. Now that you’ve started building those connections, it’s time to keep the momentum going with math lessons your students will actually look forward to!
Save for Later
Make getting to know your students and building classroom community a goal in your classroom! Pin this post to your favorite teacher Pinterest board so you can easily find these ideas and resources later. That way, when it’s time to build connections with your class, you’ll have everything you need right at your fingertips.
