Creating inclusive classroom culture with Attendance Questions

As educators, it is our goal to be as inclusive and accepting of our students as possible. While we are concerned about teaching content, the start of class is the most critical time to connect with your students and build positive classroom culture. Attendance questions help you learn about student interests, increase student engagement and ensure that every student’s voice is being heard. Giving each student the opportunity to participate in valuable community building discussion helps them ease into the mindset of getting ready to learn. Attendance questions are a fun and low stakes way to get to know your students and build a rapport with them.

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The importance of classroom culture

A strong classroom management strategy is the backbone of positive classroom culture. For me, attendance questions are an integral part of that.

• It sets expectations for your class. Starting with an attendance question establishes the expectations for students to be present and engaged. When students know that their teacher is keeping track of who is in class, they are more likely to pay attention and participate in class.

• It helps you get to know your students. By asking students their names and a question about their personality or preferences, you get a sense of who they are and what motivates them. This can help you better understand and connect with them throughout the course of the class period and throughout the school year. The real magic happens when students share something about themselves with their classmates, and there’s a me too! moment. This fosters a sense of comfort and connectedness.

• It sends a message that every student counts. Showing that you are invested in students’ lives outside of academics sends the message that you are on their team. That kind of allyship makes every student in your class feel important, and that their presence matters. This is how you create classroom community and classroom culture. When a teacher acknowledges the presence or absence of a student, that student realizes they are an integral part of the classroom landscape. They internalize that their presence matters. They understand that they are needed to make the class whole. This sense of belonging and responsibility can be a powerful motivator for students.

“[Your] student realizes they are an integral part of the classroom landscape. They internalize that their presence matters“

• Attendance questions help develop emotional intelligence. When students see their teacher taking the time to greet them by name and check in on them, they feel valued and appreciated. This sense of connection is critical for building a positive classroom culture.

To read more about classroom management and how to create positive classroom culture, check out the recent post I wrote on how daily agenda slides make classroom management a breeze!

Climate + culture = engagement

In order to be an effective educator, it’s important to establish a strong class culture and develop relationships with your students. Starting class with an attendance question shows your students that you care about their presence and engagement in the lesson. It also gives you an opportunity to get to know them better on a personal level. By asking students their names and how they’re doing, you gain insight into their social-emotional learning needs. This information can be helpful in motivating and connecting with them throughout the year. Asking an attendance question at the start of class is a small but impactful way to set the tone for a positive and productive learning environment.

If you’re ready to get a jump start on building relationships and making connections, I’ve put together a whole week of attendance questions that you can use in your own classroom tomorrow – just click here!  And if you’re ready for an entire year’s worth of attendance questions, click here!

Looking for more tips on teaching Social Studies? Join the StuckOnEDU family! Click here.

Looking for more tips on teaching Social Studies? Join the StuckOnEDU family! Click here.