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5 Tips for Learning Students’ Names
These strategies can help teachers commit students’ names to memory, even in large classes.
By Rae Merrigan
Edutopia
August 5, 2024
In the article “5 Tips for Learning Students’ Names,” Rae Merrigan emphasizes the importance of teachers learning and correctly pronouncing their students’ names, particularly at the beginning of a new school year. Merrigan argues that this effort shows students that they matter, fosters a sense of belonging, and helps build strong, respectful relationships in the classroom.
Merrigan shares five practical strategies to help teachers commit students’ names to memory, even in large classes.
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: Repetition is key to memorization. After an initial icebreaker activity, teachers should use any free time during class to walk around and quietly repeat students’ names. This practice, combined with chunking (breaking down the class into smaller groups to memorize), helps reinforce memory. Teachers are encouraged to explain these techniques to students, turning it into a lesson on memory skills.
Make it Fun: Learning names can be turned into a game, such as a name toss where students stand in a circle and toss an object while calling out the name of the person they’re throwing to. This not only aids in learning names but also adds an element of fun and engagement to the process.
Use Visuals: Visual cues can make names easier to remember. Merrigan suggests having students create name tents with a drawing that begins with the same letter as their name (e.g., “Rae” with raspberries). These visual associations reinforce memory and can be revisited in subsequent classes.
Make it Meaningful: Teachers can deepen their understanding of students by learning the stories behind their names. Merrigan recommends the “Story of My Name” activity, where students share the origins and significance of their names. This not only helps with memorization but also strengthens the connections between students and the teacher.
Pronounce It Right: In multicultural classrooms, correctly pronouncing names is crucial. Merrigan highlights the importance of learning the phonetic pronunciation of names and suggests using resources like Padlet, where students can record videos of themselves pronouncing their names. This ensures that teachers respect each student’s identity by getting their names right.
Merrigan concludes by encouraging teachers to invest time in learning their students’ names, viewing it as an opportunity to model learning, persistence, and the willingness to make mistakes. Above all, learning students’ names correctly demonstrates care and respect, essential elements in creating a positive classroom environment.
Source: Rae Merrigan, "5 Tips for Learning Students’ Names," August 5, 2024.
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Prepared with the assistance of AI software
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com
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