How to Remember Students’ Names
In spite of having close relationships with a wide range of students, educators frequently find themselves unable to recall names on demand—especially during the first few weeks of school, when they are confronted with a large number of new students as well as new responsibilities—and this is a common occurrence. The fact that visual information and names are stored in different areas of the brain serves us no favours, as does biology.
In certain cases, teachers resort to inconvenient workarounds. Nevertheless, phrases such as “Hey, boss!” or “Good to see you!” or “How is my favourite person in the entire world?” are clear giveaways, and the question “Can you spell your name for me?” can be responded with the letters “J-i-l-l.”
SUGGESTIONS FOR REMEMBERING NAMES
As a psychology professor at Kansas State University, Richard Harris asserts that every individual has a strong recall of information about subjects that interest them. As a result, take a fervent interest in interacting with your students and addressing them by their names.
Keep in mind why you’re studying learners’ names in the first place: it’s so you can recall them afterwards. Here are a few strategies for internalising pupils’ names that have proven to be helpful.
Suggestions for Recalling People’s Names
Make a few short written assignments in the first week, and then practise addressing students by their first names (“Well done, Sasha”) as you individually return their papers.
Taking photographs of students who are wearing name tags Before class, take a look at the images. Attach student images to interest inventories so that you can match faces to experiences and affinities. This will help you better understand your students.
Identify a distinguishing physical characteristic and then come up with a humorous statement that incorporates that characteristic and the student’s name: Tim has a very small tooth.
Create rhymes to improve your auditory and visual memory by repeating the following: Fred enjoys a slice of monkey bread.
Give top priority to speaking with a new group of five children on a daily basis throughout the first few weeks of the school year. Throughout your talk, refer to them by their first and last names.
As students enter the classroom, greet them by their first and last names. Inquire for assistance from students whose names you can not recollect.
When a student tells you their name, repeat it back to them and make sure that your pronunciation is correct before continuing.