10 Innovageous Ideas for Getting to Know Your Students

The start of the school year is full of possibility, and one of the most important investments teachers can make is building strong relationships with their students. When we take time to really know our students strengths, interests, needs, and aspirations, we not only create a more inclusive classroom community but also lay the foundation for meaningful learning. At Innovageous, we believe getting to know your students goes beyond the traditional “icebreakers.” It’s about gathering insights from multiple angles including academic, personal, and social-emotional, to create a whole picture of who your learners are. Here are 10 Innovageous ideas you can use this back-to-school season to connect with your students in deep and lasting ways.

1. Dig Into the Data: Look at historical academic data and recent benchmark or standardized assessments to understand where each student is starting from. Rather than just seeing scores, consider trends over time and areas of growth. This helps you set realistic goals and tailor support early in the year.

2. Know Their Needs: Review and organize accommodations from students’ IEPs or 504 plans. Creating a quick-reference chart or digital tracker can help you proactively plan supports so they are seamlessly embedded into daily instruction, ensuring every student has equitable access to learning.

3. Partner With Families: Send out a family “get-to-know-you” form or survey to learn more about students’ interests, strengths, and challenges. Families often hold key insights that help you better connect with students. This also communicates early on that you value family voices and partnership.

4. Let Students Leave Their Mark: Make time for each student to contribute something personal to the classroom environment—such as decorating a name tag, adding to a class mural, or sharing a favorite quote. These contributions help students feel ownership and belonging in the space.

5. Go Beyond Academics: Ask non-academic questions to learn about your students’ hobbies, favorite music, TV shows, or sports. These conversations create connections that make students feel seen as whole people, not just learners in your subject area.

6. Join In the Fun: Facilitate get-to-know-you activities for your students and participate yourself! Sharing your own interests, experiences, and stories models openness and builds trust while giving students a chance to see you as a real person.

7. Set Goals Together: Work with each student to establish S.M.A.R.T. goals around academic behaviors—like organization, participation, or persistence—rather than only grades. Revisit these goals throughout the year to track progress and celebrate growth.

8. Watch Them in Action: Implement cooperative learning structures and observe how students work together. Group activities provide valuable insights into student strengths, leadership skills, collaboration styles, and areas where support may be needed.

9. Hire Your Helpers: Have students apply for classroom jobs and explain why they’d be good at them. This not only builds responsibility and ownership but also gives you insight into students’ personalities, strengths, and motivations.

10. Check In Every Day: Ask students daily how they’re doing—using varied methods like hand signals, reflection prompts, sticky notes, digital polls, or quick writes. These small moments of connection provide insight into students’ well-being while building a culture of care and consistency.

Getting to know your students isn’t a one-time activity at the beginning of the year—it’s an ongoing process that requires intentionality, curiosity, and care. By combining academic insights with personal connections, teachers can create classroom communities where students feel seen, supported, and motivated to learn. This school year, try weaving these Innovageous strategies into your routines—you’ll not only deepen relationships but also unlock new possibilities for engagement and growth.

Looking for more support building relationships with your students and their families? We’d love to help! Schedule a time to chat with us at calendly.com/innovageous.