Getting to know the students in your classroom can be tricky. It can be even tougher to connect when you’re teaching online. Despite the challenge, it’s more important than ever to find ways to check in and strengthen your relationship. Not sure where to begin? Here’s a list of 50 questions to ask elementary kids throughout the year.
(Want this entire set of questions in one easy document? Get your free PowerPoint bundle by submitting your email here, so you’ll always have them available!)
1. What can I, as your teacher, do to help you this year?
2. What do you want me to know about you?
3. What does a typical day look like for you?
4. If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?
5. What is something that makes your family special?
6. What is your best quality or greatest strength?
7. What do you like best and least about school?
8. If you could change one rule that your family has, what would you change?
9. What do you enjoy doing with your family?
10. What is the best gift you have ever given? Why was it so special?
11. What are three things that you do every day?
12. If you were a teacher, and the kids in your class would not listen to you, what would you do?
13. Are you a good friend? Why do you think so?
14. How would the world be different if animals could talk?
15. What is the hardest thing about being a kid?
16. What superpower would you like to have and why?
17. If you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what rule would you make? Why?
18. How do you like to study?
19. Where is your favorite place in the world?
20. If you could change your name, would you? If so, what name would you choose?
21. If you could give one gift to every single child in the world, what gift would you give?
22. What do you want to be when you grow up?
23. What do you love?
24. What are you most afraid of?
25. What is something you do that bothers other people?
26. Tell me about something happening in the world that concerns you.
27. Tell me about something happening in the world today that excites or inspires you.
28. What do you know how to do that you can teach to others?
29. Are you organized or messy?
30. Tell me about a funny or scary adventure you had with a friend.
31. What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you?
32. Who is your best friend and why?
33. How would you change the world if you could?
34. If you could move anywhere, where would you live?
35. If you could be any animal, what would you be?
36. What’s your favorite type of food?
37. What would you change about today?
38. What are you looking forward to learning about this year (week, month)?
39. If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be and why?
40. What is your favorite season and why?
41. What would peanut butter be called if it wasn’t called peanut butter?
42. What’s your favorite book or movie?
43. How do you handle your emotions when you’re upset?
44. If you could be any age, what age would you be?
45. Can you remember a time when you had a really good day?
46. What made you laugh today?
47. What is one thing you couldn’t live without?
48. What is something you want to learn how to do?
49. What does it mean to be a good friend?
50. What is one thing that you like about yourself?
Plus check out this Free Checklist to Keep Your K-5 Reading Intervention Sessions on Track.
If these questions to ask elementary school kids inspired you, join our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group and come talk with the very teachers who suggested them!