Introvert-Friendly Student Introductions for the First Days of School

First things first (who just said "I'm the realest" in their head?), when I was in school, even in college, I hated class introductions. I never listened to anyone else's introduction because I was too busy planning what I was going to say. Now I use two Google activities to let students tell me and their classmates whatever they want to share in a way that is as painless as possible.

The first is a Student Info Google Form I create with some general parent phone number, email, etc questions. I add questions about grade or period to help organize responses later. I also like to add a little writing prompt so I get a feel for who is who. Always include a question like "Tell me something I need to know as your teacher." You'll appreciate the answers more a week or two into class than you do on night one.  Here's one you can copy and use. 

The second is my favorite, and it's easy for the teacher to create. The teacher creates one Google Slide with a few instructions and posts the instruction slide to Google Classroom with every student being able to edit the same file (don't use each student get their own copy). Each student will add their own slide to one presentation.  

These are the instructions. First slide. All the teacher really has to do. 

This is my slide. I added it to the presentation as slide two.  This isn't required, but it lets you tell students about yourself. There's that pic of me again!

Tricks to make this easier, tell the students to pay attention to not typing on someone else's slide. Some recommend adding initials in the notes part of each slide to "call" a slide. I've not found that I've had to require that. Tell students they can find great quotes on Pinterest if they can't think of one. Those quotes will already be attractive with a pic behind them. Don't give too many instructions and you'll be surprised at what they do with their slides.

I've done this activity with first graders, second graders, teachers, and my own class of sophomores. I absolutely love it. Three things they learn: how to use Google Slides, who their Classmates are, who you are, and how to work on a collaborative Slide activity. 

I do make each student present their slide and talk about why they chose each image on their slide, but I don't make them get up in front of the class. This activity takes about 20-30 minutes, depending on age and familiarity with Google Slides.