Student voice. Have you heard this term before? It’s when students are able to give their input into what happens in their classroom and school community. Student voice in the classroom helps students to feel seen, heard, and valued.
If you are struggling with classroom management or are looking for more ways to bring student voice in the classroom then try including some of these ideas at the beginning of the school year.
1. Make your first art project "identity art"
Helping your students to realize that they have a voice in your classroom, starts with spending some time getting to know them. There needs to be space in your classroom where their uniqueness is seen and celebrated.
At the beginning of the year, this starts with identity art. Go beyond just having them make a nametag for their desks and get their pictures up on your wall.
Create this “We Make a Difference” display in your room. Read this post for the details! Warning: This takes you back to my original blog.
If your middle schoolers seem resistant to putting their actual photos up, have them make self-portrait mosaics in Google Drawings. Print them off and put them in some cute frames.
Have students brainstorm what is important to them with maps of their hearts. Check them out here.
Take it even further and have them create identity webs, think about objects that represent them and create this identity art. You can grab the Map of My Heart and Identity Art instructions and rubrics in the First Day of School Bundle.
2. Class playlists for instant student voice
Middle Schoolers love music. They may (okay, probably) love music that you do not love. Try to incorporate some time where you play music that they have chosen and connect with.
Use this free class playlist to have students make song requests and create a class playlist to play during work or play time. It’s the perfect way to get student voice in the classroom and set a mood, too.
3. Start your day with morning meetings
Another way to create student voice in the classrom is by making space in your daily schedule for students to share with the class. For me, morning meetings are the way to do that!
As soon as students come into your room, instead of getting right to work, have them join you in your meeting area. (Yes, I have a carpet in my room in Grade 7 and 8. No, they don’t always love sitting on the floor at first but I’ll give them the option of bringing their chairs over).
At the beginning of the year, this sharing time may just be simple get to know you questions. For example, what’s your favourite colour? But as the year progresses, it becomes a space to talk about current events or to have a community circle about issues facing the students in the classroom.
4. Start having House leader meetings to get student input
Set aside some time, twice a month, to meet with house leaders in your classroom. Read more about the House System here.
The house leaders will meet with their houses, fill out a Stop-Start-Continue sheet (you can find this in the classroom community free download), and then meet with you at recess or during class time to share how their classmates are doing and what their needs are.
5. Use weekly reflection exit tickets to check in
Make weekly exit tickets part of your routine. I love these ones for Google Slides as I can quickly assign them and respond to students easily.
Giving students the opportunity to voice their opinions, through writing, helps them to feel more comfortable sharing with you.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to use all these ideas for student voice in the classroom all at once. It can be overwhelming, for sure!
However, these are routines that I’ve used with my students and after a few years where we couldn’t implement them fully (thanks, pandemic) I know how valuable they are!
Make sure you download the free classroom community printables below!
I’m Lauren, from “From Math to Music” – your go-to person for all things Math and Classroom Community.
Being a middle-school teacher and a mom of 3, I know how hard it is for busy teachers to create resources that allow for deep thinking and build classroom community. That's why I love sharing tips and tricks that you can you use in your middle school classroom right this minute.
