How I Remember The Students Name
On the first day of class I have printed tent cards with their names on them and underneath their name it says Automotive Technician. The tent cards look professional with our company logo on them. This does two things, one I remember their names very quickly, and also reinforces the fact of why they came here, and what they are to become. I also have a tent card that says Automotive Technician. This says Big Me and Big You. If I have any problems pronoucing their names we take a minute and phonicly spell their names. Like Mine is Mr. Knee-rad. What are you guys doing?
Hi Marcelo,
Thanks for sharing this great name game. I know other course participants will benefit of having another strategy they can use to help them get to know their students.
Gary
Another interesting way to remember students names is by in the first day of class, you play " the letter name" game. All students starting their names wit an A should came up with 5 adjectives realted to that particular class they are currently taking, and so on with B's,C's until all students have been named.
This also reinforces the importance of that class for them as well.
Hi Jose,
I commend you for your effort to get to know the names of your students so quickly. This is a really important part of being a good instructor. You are sending a real clear message that you care about them as individuals. Also, by knowing their names you can bring them into discussions by calling on them. Keep up the good work. I know your students are benefiting from your dedication.
Gary
As the students are enrolled into my class for the very first time (first quarter), the first day of their career starts with them standing up and giving a 2 minute presentation to their new classmates concerning their name, goals and a bit of history of themselves. At that time I use a seating chart and listen to each student's name and write down their name on the proper seating location on the chart. When I recieve the autorized version of the class roster - I compare the names of the roster and the names on my seating chart. Is their a difference? If it is- Bingo, I just put a face with a name. Students have a tendency to stay and sit on the same chair for a very long time, as it becomes their comfort zone. Using the school class roster daily for attendance purposes and their comfort zone seating arraingment, it is easy to place a name with a face. During the lecture and questioning period, I use the seating chart to remind me of the students name and face as I acknowledge their name outloud when I am asking him/her with a question. Usually within four days I already know the students name without using the seating chart or the roster. By the fifth day the students recieve their school I.D.s and this will be my true achievement of placing names and faces. For me making an effort to know their names within the first few days (a class of 30 students) it makes all the difference.
Hi Heather,
Learning the names of students as soon as possible is an important part of being a good instructor. Your approach is valuable in showing your students that you care about their success plus it will help with developing rapport.
Gary
I use a seating chart for about the first week. I use this to take attendance and to call on students by name. This in addition to the introductions on the first day generally allows me to know the students names in under a week.
Hi Heather,
You are doing a great job of getting to know your students with all of the classes you teach and the number of students you have. The sharing of information about themselves and yourself is an excellent way of getting the students settled in and they getting to know about you as a professional and a person.
What techniques do you use to get to know the names of your students?
Gary
I use a technique similar to this. I take attendance first to start to match faces and names. Then I go over the first day announcments. The last activity for the first day os to have my students intrduce themselves and tell the class their major, where they are from, what term they are in, and something about themselves like family, hobbies, and pets. Because I have typically 5 classes per 12 week term with up to 30 in a class, I find that this gives me something to associate with the face and name. I also give them similar information about myself so that they will hopefully see me as human. I feel this helps to put them more at ease.
Thanks Gary. Remembering Students names has always been hard for me to do. It is easier now that I have found new techniques to use.
Hi Darlene,
This "ice breaker" method lets you not only learn names but also get to know where each student sees his or her career path going. This will really help you as you work with the students during the coming course phase.
Gary
In my classes, I always have the student stand up, introduce themselves, and tell a little bit about their background including hobbies and family. I also ask them to tell me where they would like to take their new career. By using their names everyday, it helps me to remember them faster.
I always make it a point to put fourth my best effort to remember their names by the end of the first week at the latest. This makes the students feel more comfortable with me as a person so that I may be more accessable for asking questions when needed.
Yes, I do the same technique on the first day. After roll call I ask the student's to tell me their name, where they are from, and what their plans are in life so far. I pick up and pass out tests/answer sheets in order and that helps with learning the student's names as well. Some students you will learn their names faster than others, but I try to learn them all.
I make sure that I learn how to say the student's name correctly. I have found that when I return tests for review, after I have graded them helps me learn the students names. I do like the tent card idea.
I like Mark's method, along with a seating chart, so I can take notes about the student's when I meet them for the first time. As this module teaches us to build a good rapport,I can't always remember the one item about 24 to 30 students. A seating chart gives me a memorization tool for a couple of days and by then I have a good handle on who's who. It is great with recongizing when their demeanor may change and building trust with them. It can be very dis-heartening when you mix one student for an other.
On the first day of class I have my students stand up, state their name, tell me where they call home, and tell me where they see them selves in 5 years. This serves many purposes. When they stand up it gives me a chance to make sure they are in dress-code compliance. They tell me where they call home which gives me a chance to chat about their hometown and let them know that I have interest in them, and last when they tell me where they plan to be in 5 years, it helps the student refocus on why they are here.
Jeff Pittman
Remembering names is the hardest thing for me. I have a new grooup of students every three weeks. Class size runs from 20-30 students. I start by calling roll and asking students to feel free to correct any mistakes I make when trying to pronounce their names. Even when reviewing the attendance sheet before I still have names that may be difficult to pronounce or have more than one pronounciation. I try to use this opportunity put them at ease with me. Allowing them to correct me helps open the door for two way comunication. I will also call roll after every break as well.
I have the students sit in the same seats and I make a seating chart. I can call on the students by name to ask them questions. This also lets me know who's retaining the material and who's not. I then can give alittle more help to those individuals.
TENT CARDS ARE A GOOD IDEA.I HAVE FOUND THAT A SEATING CHART WORKS BETTER FOR ME.FIRST IT SEPERATES THE FRIENDS THAT LIKE TO CHAT DURING LECTURE AND SECONDLY ALLOWS ME TO GAIN A CONSISTANT NAME TO FACE.
