First Day Roll Call
On my first day with a new class, when taking roll call, I like to ask each new student what they hope to do after graduating, and incorporate that into class when I call on them in the future.
RICARDO,
I give Professional Points for being on time, attendance, and participation. The points a enough to impact a full letter grade so they are valuable to the students. Due to the size of my classes I use name tents. The name tents are on the desk in front of the class. Students pick up their name tent and go to their seat. When I start the class (which is always on time) I pick up the name tents that remain. These students are then considered absent and I mark them as such after class. As with everything their are circumstances that come up where students have let me know in advance that they will be late or absent and I take this into consideration as I award the earned professional points. This way I can take roll in a quick and quite way that enables me to start the learning process without taking time to do an clerical work. I make sure I do a quick mental review of the class at the end in case some students might have slipped out before being dismissed. My classes run for 6 hour blocks so it is easy for me to know who is there at the end of class.
In answer to your question in terms of when to take roll it doesn't really matter. Just take it when you will get the most accurate picture of whose in attendance. I shared my strategy to give you a model you might want to use.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree that is very important to learn the proper pronunciation of your student's names during roll call and to ask if there is a nickname by which they wish to be addressed; but do you take attendance at the beginning of class or at the end? If you take it at the beginning what incentive do the less conscientious have to remain for the duration? If you take it at the end what incentive do they have to arrive on time? Any thoughts? Ricardo Richards
Students nowday have very difficult names, so before I start calling the names in the roster I explain to them how to pronounce my name corrrectly and then I tell them to please correct me if I mispronounce their name and to inform me if there is a nickname they would rather me use when calling them.
On the frst day of class, i like to have the students share why they want to be Medical Assistants
I don't think it would be rude. It would be more rude to keep calling them by the incorrect name, wouldn't it?
Susan,
I like your ice breakers. Good way to have fun in the course while the students are getting settled in and getting to know each other.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I think i'll try this-i'm terrible remembering names. also, would it be rude to ask the student to say their name for the first few days when responding in the class to help facilitate my learning of their names?
I like the super power question. That can give you a real look into how a person views themselves and the worl they are in. Thanks I will use that myself.
On the first day of class at the career college I teach at I ask what program each student is in: vet tech, nursing, surgical tech etc. I then tried to point out how math assist in their field. I try to find word problems that are applicable to their field. I also ask them one of two questions to break the ice. 1) If you had an extra $100 what would you do with it? or 2) If you had a super-power what would it be?
Ralph,
This is a good way to personalize the course and your interaction with each to student to make everyone feel welcome and appreciated. They know you have listened to what they have said and where they want to go with their careers.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Great idea I will try that with my students
