Learning important details: student inventories

Student inventories can assist teachers in swiftly determining characteristics and facts about students that shape who they are, and they can also be used to organize future class activities and lectures. For example, the teacher might ask students to identify their favorite bands, songs, sports, activities, games, or foods, or delve deeper with questions about their culture, memories, and family.

Another possibility is to have students write 20 sentences that complete the prompt, "I am someone who..." or to pose a short list of thought-provoking questions in one-on-one aspirations and dreams conferences. Ask questions that go to the heart of who students are today and who they want to be in the future, such as "what bugs you about the world?", "what motivates you?" and "what dreams do you have after high school?". Teachers might look for patterns in student replies and apply what they discover to create classroom lessons and activities that are relevant to student's interests.