Getting to Know Your Students
What strategies do you use to get to know the students in your classroom?
Go back to the Equity in Computer Science Self-Paced Professional Learning Course
I use several strategies to get to know my students, particularly in my middle school computer science classes:
- Beginning-of-year surveys that go beyond basic CS experience to ask about interests, hobbies, learning preferences, and what makes them feel supported. I include questions about their previous experiences with technology that might not be obvious, like digital art or gaming.
- One-on-one conversations during independent work time. These brief check-ins help me understand their thinking and build rapport. I make a point to speak personally with every student within the first few weeks.
- Interest-based coding projects that allow students to express their identities through their work while giving me insight into what motivates them.
- Student data cards that I maintain throughout the year with notes about each student’s strengths, challenges, interests, and learning breakthroughs. I update these regularly to track growth and changing interests.