Remembering Names
Anyone have any useful ways of remembering names? I have a hard time remembering names in the very beginning.
Glen,
This is a very really challenge in terms of remembering names. Hopefully someone will be able to share with you some strategies that will work with this volume of students as well as the frequent turnover. I have approximately 300 students pep session in groups of 25-35 students. I am able to remember their names using a number of techniques but one of the most effective are name tents. I lay the name tents our on my desk and before class starts the students come up and pick up their name tent. This gives me a connection between the name tent and that students face. I also try to always speak to each student as he or she picks up their name tent and that builds an additional connection. Within three weeks I am handing our the name tents as each student comes in so I have their names in my memory bank at this time.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have read everybody's comments on learning names. I teach anywhere from 20 to 35 students two groups per day 5 hours each day. Each day per week I have two totally different groups. I see each group one 5 hour session per week for three weeks. Then they move to a different phase on a different day. I have each different group one day a week for 5 different phases. Any suggestions on how to remember all their names would be greatly appreciated.
I have my roster that is the schools then i have my own roster that is inside my notes. I put on my roster the students name then i write how to pronounce the name correctly, with one unique postive thing about the student. That way I am always saying their name correctly and say somthing good about them. This way they know that I am truly listening to them and care about them.
generaly first i put the student in the roster order then when they have theit group done i draw my class set up ,make my life easier.
From the roster I ask each student to introduce themselves with the answers to three (or four) questions. I ask them to answer who they are, if they work say where they work, what brought them to "this program", and what they expect to get out of completing this program. I can then tie these details to this person to help me remember their name. When I talk to them about their answers to my questions I mention their name as many times as I can. If I don't remember their name I ask them to pronounce their name, especially if it is a difficult one for me to pronounce or remember. Repitition is the key for me, so the more I say their name the easier it gets to remember.
Ruth Whitaker,
The first day of class I have the students introduce themselves to me and the class along with reasons for taking the class. I obtain a mini biography from the students. I also find that establishing a seat assignment helpful in remembering names.
Kareneen,
I like this fun and game like approach to learning student names. This involves the students and helps them focus their attention on you even it is trying to catch you missing a name. Thanks for sharing this idea with us.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I print the class roster before each class. I will admit, though, that I am one of those people who have a hard time with names. I am honest with my students and I tell them that I can get a name wrong once, but if I do it again that student receives one extra credit point. The students love it and they almost encourage me to get their names wrong because they want the point! It turns my mistake into a fun class game, rather than students feeling like I don't care enough to remember their names. Also, having that extra pressure forces me to do a better job of memorizing.
I think of someone or something the person reminds me of and put the name with the face. I look at each person and obtain a mental picture every class when taking roll when their name is called.
Joseph,
For the first few days I use name tents, much like the names on the chest that cued you for all those years. I bring in all kinds of wild felt markers and have the students put their names on the 5X7 cards I provide. They can embellish the name tents in way they want to bring their personalities out. (All in good taste of course). Most of them are cartoon type of drawings about a hobby, family, pet, etc. I collect them after the first class, review them and then hand them out the next time the class meets. By doing so I am making a connection between the student, his her name tent, and the drawing on the name tent. The three connection points helps me to have their names by the third class meeting. (I have 70 students per class so I am pushed to get the names early).
Hope this helps.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I am definitely in the area where I have a hard time remembering names. I spend 32 years in the US Army where everyone's name was on their chest. Even if I could not see their chest, I could call them by their rank. With the 5/10 weeks sessions we have, I can only remember the names of the best student and the students who need alot of assisntance, thus not remember the silent ones. Any ideas?
Johnnie,
Get the class roster before the first class meeting and spend some time going over it. Then have each student introduce him/herself and give some background and something about themselves. Make notes about that significant fact that was shared and use it to connect the student's name with the fact. You will quickly start making connections between each student and the fact given and before you know it you will have the names down.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
