Personalized Greetings: Definition and Key Features
All students need this every day, but some students need more. Equity means matching your use with students’ needs.
Definition: Each student is greeted with their preferred name, a warm genuine tone of voice, and with an individualized statement that communicates they are welcomed or valued.
Key Considerations for Equity:
Key Feature 1: Gain input from students and their families, review the options with the students in advance, and have a visual representation of them near the greeting location.
Key Feature 2: Pronounce each name correctly and confidently. Do not shy away from those that are less familiar.
Key Feature 3: Offer multiple options to meet the needs of all students, including having an “opt out” choice.
Key Feature 4: Ensure that all students are greeted at least once per day.
Key Feature 5: Recognize how your feelings may impact greetings after a challenging interaction and intentionally use a warm greeting to reset the tone of the moment.
Purpose: Greetings help students feel valued and welcome. It sets the tone for entering the classroom space.
Examples:
- Good morning, Deion. I’m glad you are here today! [to a student who struggled to meet expectations the day before]
- Hi Paavni! I’m looking forward to our time together today.
- Welcome, Rhianna. What a wonderful smile you are wearing today!
- Aloha, Makani! It’s a brand-new day. Let’s make it a good one! [student from Hawaii, whose families uses Aloha for greetings]
Tips:
- Greet students in the morning or whenever they return to the classroom (e.g., after lunch, specials, intervention, etc.).
- Offer verbal and nonverbal greetings; handshake, wave, and bow, including an “opt out” choice for those who are less comfortable with the options made available that day.
- Craft individualized statements that are culturally relevant and respectful. Recognize special occasions, holidays, or cultural events that may be important to individual students.