Five Questions to Ask Instead of "How was Your Summer?"

 Checking in with students after a long break feels...natural.

As adults, even working adults without a summer break, we ask how summer has gone. Many of us travel, relax, or otherwise take a "break" from reality.

That "break" is not always the happy, magical bubble we envision for our students.  For numerous reasons, from having responsibilities, to living in an unsafe neighborhood, to not having a family budget that allows for travel, the idea of "summer" varies widely for our students.

Requiring students to answer "How was your summer?" can actually cause harm.

So, what can we do instead? After all, regardless of how our students experienced summer, we have all been away from any traditional sense of school.  We are usually with new students and we need the opportunity get to know each other.  

Here are five questions to ask, instead of, "How was your summer?" that can build community in a classroom.

1. How does your family cook rice?
2. What is your favorite season?
3. What is your favorite meal?
4. Who do you admire and why?
5. Unicorns vs. Dinosaurs?

The first, "How does your family cook rice?" is my favorite.  I have had students describe their family rice cooking method in detail while another says, "We call Panda Express."  Students learn a lot about each other, and the question is low risk. Rice is a budget friendly item, and food builds community.  Food based questions often inspire a lot of conversation in class (I distinctly remember a year long battle amongst students about pancakes vs. waffles) while also feeling "safe."

The other questions are fairly low risk, as students can answer with something more personal (perhaps detailing their grandma's famous chicken enchiladas, as I might) or they can reach for something truly low-risk by naming a restaurant dish.  The final question, devised by my first grader, is funny and definitely loosens any tensions among students new to a class, while also leading to a shocking amount of discussion.

The biggest piece of wisdom I can offer for any of these getting to know you questions is that any answer is correct.  One student may admire their mom, while another says Captain America.  All answers are valid, and these simple questions can set up safer environment in your classroom.