Best Ways to Start Talking to a Guy I Like Without Making It Awkward?

There's this guy who I really like, but I'm super anxious because I have zero experience talking to guys I'm into. He's pretty popular and talks to a lot of people, so I feel at a disadvantage. I don't want to come across as weird or be awkward, but doing nothing isn't an option either. I have no clue how to start a conversation without it turning into a huge deal in my head. We talked about starting with something small, like asking about homework or commenting on something happening in class. The fact that he talks to a lot of people might actually help since he's probably used to random conversations. I just need to keep it simple and not try to be impressive, just normal. I realized that it's just a conversation, not an audition, and I don't have to be perfect. If he's genuinely nice, he won't judge me for being nervous. We discussed how to keep the conversation simple and ways to talk outside of school, like texting about homework or using social media, but focusing on in-person chats first.