Ice Breakers
What ice breaker activities have you used in class? and was it successful?
Hi Christina,
Students love having fun while learning. Students really retain more when they have fun while learning.
Patricia Scales
Great ideas with regards to ice breakers being used in the classroom. Where I teach new classes start every Monday; which means you're always getting new students. Being able to have quick fun activities, like the ones mentioned help keep students engaged as well as creating a team like atmosphere; which I find makes the teaching and learning process easier to adjust to.
I have never used an ice breaker for my class. Day 1 I introduce myself and sell my students on my expertise and outline the course and it's objectives but I don't pursue an ice breaker activity. In a secondary education for career training I feel that the students are there for 1 reason - getting their training. In the job environment they will get to know they're co-workers while doing the job - not by making paper airplanes on their first day. Day 1 for students that feel they have to be in the class instead of wanting to be in the class would be an appropriate time for ice breakers (political science class for someone pursuing an engineering degree for example). The length of program for what I teach is very long (1 year) and the social interaction and group exercises take care of the team building. All justifications aside, it really boils down to the fact that I never liked them as a student so I don't use them as an instructor.
Hi Juan,
Sure try it, it is fun and very effective with name memorization.
Patricia
Hi Patricia,
This is a good method to have the students describe themselves. It is a powerful ice breaker. I had not thought of this method but thank you for sharing it with us. With your permission I would like to use it in my classes.
Does any one else have some more icebreakers?
I like for students to use an adjective starting with the first letter of their name to describe themselves along with their name as a way to introduce themselves, i.e. Postive Patricia! Activity goes over well.
Patricia
