ED101
I have an instructor that does not know the names of the students - This is very frustrating for the students -I feel sorry for the instructor because the students make comments about how she does not remember their names and they have also lost confidence in her teaching due to this
Jerome,
What are some strategies do you use to learn student names quickly.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It just makes sense to remember the students names.
Hi Lori,
Great idea. Thanks for sharing this strategy with us. Anything you can do to get the names down is a way to start learning names and earning respect from students.
Gary
The more students you have the harder it is to remember them all. On or first day, I had them all fill out a questionaire. As they shared their info around the classroom, I jotted down descriptions of each person so I could remember them easier. I have to say it worked for me!
We don't have the students a long time, but I try to get it the first day. I draw the seating on paper and put names in after they have decided if that is where they will be sitting. Of course once in a while they may change , but you get to see their faces again with their names when you call them the wrong name first.
How many students are there?
It could be that there are too many.
I usually deal with small classroom settings.
Sometimes it is unrealistic to expect that an instructor would remember the name of every student if the classroom had more than 15 people.
Hi Mike,
I commend you on your approach to learning your students' names as well as allowing the other students to learn names. As you mentioned the excercise is a great ice breaker as well helping to create a sense of community within the classroom. Getting the students involved is a real key when it comes to helping them see themselves as a part of the class.
I use a number of different activities like this that have helped me to get the class off to a good start.
Great job!
Gary
One of the first things that I do with students on the first day is play what I called "the name game". It works like this.
I introduce myself. "I'm Mike"
Then pick a randum student and ask their name.
"I'm Jack".
Then I say "Hi Jack, what's my name". They will of coarse say, "Your name is Mike".
I'll say good, then pick another student and ask them their name and if they remember what both of our names are. (Me and the 1st student)
They will say "yes...I'm Ben and he's Jack and your Mike".
Continue around the room. Generally speaking, through massive repeatition and just adding one new name on each pass, most people will be able to repeat back most of the names they've heard. Now, I know that most people, including myself will not remember all those names by the next class meeting but it will enable me and everyone else to have a start on knowing everyone's name, maybe about 1/3 of them. Plus it's a great ice breaker for everyone and help to cohere the group.
Hi Susan,
The reason that I work so hard to memorize all my students' names is that I consider them customers and that is customer service. I can be a Wal-mart or I can be a small store operator. The students like having their names used and I get much better results in terms of performance and participation, plus my evaluations are always high, that keeps the administration happy. Everyone wins.
Gary
Gary,
This is a very interesting topic for me. I find it atonishing that you memorize 300 students names. When I attendend undergraduate studies I felt that since I was at a large state school it was my responsibility to take extra time to get to know the instructors and mke myself less than a wallflower. In my graduate studies only in practicum did my profesor use my name.
I have struggled with student names and find the ones who never engage in discussion are most difficult. I was about ready to tell them that it was their responsibliity to make themselves known by further participating in class. After reading your information I think the seating chart is a great idea. Prior to tis course I felt it was too "grade school like" to utilize. I will do so from now on.
Hi Kim,
One of the most effective ways for me to remember students' names when I have large numbers ( I usually have 300 hundred students each semester) is to take their pictures the first and/or second class meeting. I use a digital camera so I can put the pictures on a my computer. I then locate their names beside their pictures and jot one important detail about each students. Example-picture, name, just returned from trip to China, or collects baseball cards. The detail is not important as to content, the detail is important as to remembering their names, faces, and something about them. The detail not only helps me remember the name as I mentioned, it also gives me an opening to chat with the student as he or she comes into the class. This helps me to establish immediate rapport with each student.
Gary
Reading this forum has opened my eyes. In our Fall term, we usually get about 90 new students and I have them all. I think I just accepted that it was going to take me a long time to learn all their names and didn't go the extra mile to do it more quickly. Any other suggestions for retaining their names would be appreciated.
Hi Mechelle, Dr Gary is right, about some people have problems with names, I was one of them, but after I start making time to go with each student and recall their names, I start memorizing all my students names and it works, just like Dr. Gary said.
I always make of point of learning not just how a student pronounces their name, but how its spelled because I list lectures for students on a board at the front of the class.
This lets them know I see them as individuals and keeps them aware on a daily basis of any lectures they may have with me.
Hi Shawn,
You are on the right track of getting to know your students' names ASAP. Anything you can do to help you acquire their names is important. By learning the names of your students early in the course you are showing your respect for them and that you care about having them in your class.
Gary
I find name tags very useful when trying to learn the names of the students.I let the students know how important it is to wear their name tags so that I can learn their names.
Hi Patricia,
Right on! You have captured to essence of being a good teacher the very first day. As you mentioned in your forum response, learning the students' names shows you care. You have a head start on the class just by doing this simple but very important thing for your students. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I make it a point to learn the names of my students on the very first day of class. I feel as though knowing the names of your students is very important to both you as the instructor as well as the student. By learning the names of your students, this makes the students feel as though they are important as well as special. I love having great sudent involvement/participation in my classes, it serves me well when I can call a student by name to participate. I always impress my new group of students by learning their names on the very first day of class. By learning the names of your students, you are establishing a rapport with them!
Hi Katayoun,
Good suggestion about learning student names. The key is to have a method that will let you learn the names quickly and you start using them at the beginning of the course. This sends the message that you care about the students. Adult students seem to need the use of their names even more than traditional student. The use of their names seems to give the reassurance that they are going to be supported and respected in the course.
Gary
