Back-to-School Student Questionnaire

Sample questions can help educators create the survey

Schoolchildren Returning to School

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One of the challenges of starting a new school year is getting acquainted with your students. Some students are friendly and talkative right away, while others may be shy or reserved. Provide students with a back-to-school questionnaire to learn more about each student in your class. You can also combine student questionnaires with other icebreakers during the first week of school.

Sample Student Questions

The following questions are some examples to consider including in your own questionnaire. Modify the questions to suit your students' grade level. If you need a second opinion, run your questionnaire draft by an administrator or a fellow teacher. You don't need to have students answer every question, though you might want to give them an incentive to participate. And remember, students want to get to know you better, too—so fill out a questionnaire of your own and distribute it.

Personal Details

  • What is your full name?
  • Do you like your name? Why or why not?
  • Do you have a nickname? If so, what is it?
  • When is your birthday?
  • Do you have any siblings? If so, how many?
  • Do you have any pets? If so, tell me about them.
  • Who is your favorite relative? Why?

Future Goals

  • What career do you hope to have?
  • Do you want to go to college? Why or why not?
  • If you want to go to college, which one do you want to attend?
  • Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?
  • Do you plan to stay in this area or move away?

Specific Information About This Class

  • What do you think about [the grade level and/or subject matter you teach]?
  • What concerns, if any, do you have about this class?
  • What do you hope to learn in this class?
  • What grade are you striving to earn in this class?

This Year in School

  • What are you most looking forward to this year?
  • What are you least looking forward to this year?
  • Which school clubs are you planning to participate in this year?
  • What extracurricular activities do you plan to join this year—such as sports, theater, or band?
  • Do you think that you learn better by seeing, hearing, or doing something?
  • Do you consider yourself well organized?
  • Where do you typically do your homework?
  • Do you like to listen to music while you do schoolwork?

Free Time

  • Who are your friends in this class?
  • What do you like to do in your free time?
  • What are your hobbies?
  • What's your favorite type of music?
  • What's your favorite TV show?
  • What's your favorite type of movie? (For example, you might choose thrillers, romantic comedies, or horror movies.) Why do you like that genre?

More About You

  • What's your favorite color?
  • If you could invite three famous people to dinner, who would they be and why?
  • What do you think is the most important quality that a teacher can have?
  • Five adjectives that describe me are:
  • If you were given a first-class ticket to travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Format
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Your Citation
Kelly, Melissa. "Back-to-School Student Questionnaire." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/back-to-school-student-questionnaire-7888. Kelly, Melissa. (2020, August 27). Back-to-School Student Questionnaire. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/back-to-school-student-questionnaire-7888 Kelly, Melissa. "Back-to-School Student Questionnaire." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/back-to-school-student-questionnaire-7888 (accessed March 28, 2024).