While teaching English conversation in China, I always started the class with a warm up question(s) or conversation starter(s). My students could talk *IN ENGLISH* to any class member near them. Then we would have 2 students tell the whole class their answer to the warm up question(s). The students knew that once in the semester they had to answer in front of the whole class, so they could volunteer or take the point deduction if they didn’t volunteer sometime during the semester. Here are some questions I brainstormed while planning for the semester (Some of these conversation starters make good writing prompts too):
My idea of hard work is…
My worst fear is…
A miserable feeling is when…
What I did last night (or last weekend)…
What I am doing tonight (or next weekend)…
What really bothers me…
What really excites me…
What really scares me…
What really surprises me…
The funniest thing I ever saw was…
The scariest thing I ever saw was…
I really hate it when…
I really wonder about…
What food have you tried (thinking you’d hate it) and you liked it?
If I could fly I would…
When I’m old…
Fifteen things I want to do in my lifetime:
Love is…
Friendship is…
Being happy is…
When I graduate from college…
My best birthday…
In 20 years, I will be…
I was most angry when…
My safe place is…
Three items I would place in a time capsule. Why?
I don’t leave home without ______ because…
If I could move anywhere (on earth)…
If I could apologize to one person…
If I could make all the rules…
If I could speak to animals…
If I could climb a rainbow…
If I could change shape…
If I could meet anyone in the world…
If I could ride on the Magic School Bus…
If I had a brontosaurus…
If I had 3 wishes, I would wish for…
If I had $1,000,000…
If I had a twin…
If I had an airplane…
If I were stuck in an elevator…
If I were in a blizzard…
If I were stranded in the woods…
If I were one inch tall…
If I were invisible…
If I were a rock…
If I were a movie star…
If I lived in a castle…
If I lived in a cave…
If I lived in a tree…
If I lived in a spaceship…
If I lived underwater…
If I lived on a mountain…
If I won the lottery…
If I got to be captain of a boat…
What color do you think love is?
What color do you think hate is?
What is something you do well?
What is your favorite room in your house and why?
What is the worst thing parents can do to their children?
What is your favorite time of day?
What is your idea of a dull evening?
What is something you are optimistic about?
What is something you are pessimistic about?
What is the best birthday present you ever received?
What is the best birthday present you could receive?
What is something that makes you feel sad?
What is something that really bugs you?
What is something that really makes you angry?
What is the best advice you ever received?
What would happen if you could fly whenever you wanted?
What would you do if there were no TV?
What would happen if animals could talk? What are some of the questions you would like to ask animals?
What would you do if you found ancient artifacts in your backyard?
What do you do if you got a present you don’t like?
If you could have been someone in history, who would you have been?
If you could only take 3 people with you on a trip around the world, who would you take and why?
If you could give any gift in the world, what would you give and to whom?
If you could do whatever you wanted to right now, what would you do?
If you were five years older you would…
If it were your job to decide what shows can be on TV., how would you choose?
If you could participate in an Olympic event, which one would you choose and why?
If you could break the Guinness Book of Records it would be for?
If you had to describe yourself as a color, which would you choose?
What do you think of 3D movies?
What do you think the world needs now?
What do you think about ghosts?
What do you think about when you can’t fall asleep?
What do you think are the 5 most important in making a happy family?
What do you like most about yourself?
What are the 6 things you do most in your free time?
What makes you feel safe?
What makes you laugh?
What would you invent to make life better (I think I know an answer to this one!)?
What would you do to entertain your family without spending any money?
What three words would describe you right now?
What color makes you think of happiness?
How do you feel when you are in bed with the lights out?
How do you feel on a warm sunny day?
How do you feel during a thunderstorm?
How do you feel on the first day of school?
How do you feel when your parents are upset with you? Why do they become upset with you?
I wish I could be like…. (person) because….
I wish there were a law that said…..
I wish I could forget the time I ….. because….
I wish I could see…… because…..
I wish I could learn….. because…..
I wish I didn’t have to eat……
I wish everyone would learn to …..
I wish I never……
I wish I had one more chance to….. Then I would…..
I wish there was an electric……
I wish I had enough money to……
I wish there were no more…..
I wish I didn’t have to…..
I wish I could go to…..
I wish there really was…..
I wish I could hear……
I wish I could give……
If all my wishes came true, I would……
When you are angry, how do you look?
When are you happiest?
Who do you talk to when you have a problem?
Who is your favorite Star Wars character (or other movie/book/t.v. show, etc.)?
Who or what has had a strong influence in your life?
Where would you prefer to be right now–mountains, desert, beach–and why?
Describe your mom’s wedding dress – what do you know about your parent’s wedding?
What jobs has your dad had? Which one did he like the best?
What is your mom’s best trait?
What is your dad’s best trait?
What’s one word on how to live successfully?
What is your child-raising philosophy?
Do you wish you had more sisters or brothers, and why?
How do you like being the youngest kid in your family? Advantages? disadvantages?
Tell about a frustrating experience that you have had with a car.
Who is your favorite Apostle? Why?
What is your personal secret of happiness?
What is the most important lesson, message, or advice that you have learned that you might pass on to others?
What first comes to mind when you hear these things?
Green eggs and ham…
Jellybeans…
Worms…
Shoes…
Aliens…
Good luck charms…
Haunted houses…
Clowns…
Chores…
Homework…
Sports…
Dancing…
Flying…
Fishing…
Cooking…
Playing…
Let me just say this: I’m not really into all the frilly-dilly stuff some teachers are into. In my 6th grade class, we don’t do show and tell, student of the week posters, etc. I just have more important things to worry about. Judge me if you want, but that’s the reality here.
When I first heard about this article, I was amazed. What? Not teach kids to memorize basic math facts like the teacher did when I was a kid?! With the timed tests and everything? This article, “Strategies for Basic-Facts Instruction” by Andrew M. Isaacs and William M. Carroll, is an excellent article that discusses what teachers really need to be focusing on when teaching math facts. What really makes learning math facts effective? The author argues that rote memorization is much less effective in teaching mathematics, and why a strategy-based approach should be used. Isaacs and Carroll conclude that “a strategies-based approach {to teaching math facts} builds students’ understanding and confidence. De-emphasizing rote memorization encourages students to use their common sense in mathematics, thus supporting concept development.”
Here’s a great first day of school activity to help kids get familiarized with your classroom. This also provides you an opportunity to talk about things you’d like students to know but might otherwise forget to talk about. Review answers at the end of the activity just in case anybody missed something. Enjoy!
Squarehead Teachers 
