Name Games Are NOT For The Teacher

For my first week of drama classes, as my daily game for each grade level, I chose an appropriate drama-oriented name game.  Each new class I learned ways to make my instructions a little better and a little faster and a little tighter.  But did they help me learn ANY names?  Not really.  I was too focused on classroom management, supporting students who were nervous or shy, and keeping the lesson going.  For the grade levels with which I am working, where there are many new students, I do not regret playing name games, as they are useful for the students in ensemble building. However, to help myself learn names, it was time to try a different tack.

As a specialist, I will spend the year working regularly with over 200 students.  When you add in the fact that I will likely do a unit each with G2 through G5...well, basically I need to know the names of every single one of the 500+ students in the Village School.  No sweat.

One of the most impressive professors I have ever had, BP, knew everyone's names on day one.  She came to the first class armed with a class list with all of our photos.  As a student walked in, she would look at the student's face - then down at her list - then at the student - then at the list.  Then BP would look the student in the eye and greet her by name.

To me, there are two main benefits to knowing each child by name.  The first is in terms of management.  Naturally, the names a teacher learns first are the names he or she has to say a lot - reminders to sit down, raise your hand before speaking, keep your hands to yourself.  Being able to call a student's attention by name makes you ten times more effective.

The second (and I would say more important) reason it is important to know every name is because it makes students feel good.  When you can greet a child by name, they feel so much more special than if you simply say "hello."  Simply adding their name to your warm greeting can go so far in establishing relationships and building community within your classroom and the school as a whole.

So without further ado, here are Ms. H's tips and tricks for learning student names!

1.  Many homeroom teachers, especially in the primary years, will have taken a photo of each student for some kind of class project.  Ask if they can email those to you with a corresponding list of  students' names.  (Hint for classroom teachers - if you want your specialists to LOVE you, bring a list of pictures and names to your very first class!  Kudos to Mrs. R in G1.)  Stare at them.  Quiz yourself.  Practice, practice, practice.

2.  In a similar vein, check out the school's yearbook.  Obviously this doesn't help much with Pre-K or with new students, but it can give you a start with those vaguely familiar faces.  I find this less helpful than having a list by classroom - knowing which class the student is in can provide you a context that makes it easier to remember them.

3.  Sit in and observe the class when possible, particularly during morning meeting or other circle activities.  I find that my best memorization happens when I am looking at the child and saying her or his name to myself a few times.  However, this only works when I am NOT the lead teacher - with primary teaching, one does not have the luxury to pause the lesson, stare at the child for a few seconds, then move on.

How do YOU learn new names?  Have a favourite name game, or another suggestion?  Share in the comments, and good luck to us all!

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Currently reading:  Creating Drama with 4-7 Year Olds by Miles Tandy and Jo Howell
Current high:  found the book above as well as a few other great resources in our school library last week!  Feeling so excited about my curriculum :)
Current low:  this weekend was the wedding of one of my dearest friends (referenced in this post) - so sorry not to be there to celebrate with her