Get to know your incoming students by having them write a letter/rap/poem to you! I teach mainly 9th grade, so I save these and given them back when they are seniors. Categories include: family/friends, hobbies/interests/goals, experience with math (can change it to your content level). I typically give students 20-30 minutes in class to brainstorm and write, and then have them finish outside of class. This allows me to learn a lot about each student, but also keeps their information private. I