How to remember kids names?

Question

I am a teacher and I have difficulties remembering some of my pupils names, any suggestions?

Answer 1

I think it's terribly important to learn the kids' names as soon as possible, so I make a challenge of it to myself. After making a seating chart on the first day and going through my syllabus and first-day lessons, I study their faces during the last ten minutes (or so) of class, constantly referring to the seating chart. Also on the first day, I promise each of them an extra credit point if I don't know their first names by the end of the third day of school, and another if I don't know their first and last names by the fourth day of school.

I hate giving out cheap points for extra credit, but at the same time, it works for me. Day Two is also a lot of studying and referring for me, and when Day Three comes, it's a moment of truth. With five minutes left in class, I tell all of the kids to move... change seats... so they know I'm not just looking down at the chart. I'll usually miss a few in each of my classes, but the extra credit point and the game of it makes it easier on them, and they know I'm trying to learn. I might miss a kid or two out of all my classes on Day Four, but I guarantee I never forget them again.

Answer 2

What has worked best for me is to use a seating chart. Everytime I call on a student I look directly at their face. After the first day I usually know about 5 kids. That is not much in 150 students! Within a week I probably have about half down without using the seating chart. After 2 weeks I pretty much have it down. If I am having a problem remembering 3 or 4 kids I try to call on them a little more until I have got it.
Sometimes in the past I have used the last 3 minutes of class to go around and say their names. The kids think it is funny when I mess up and if I can do them all then they are amazed. That helps a lot!
On my first day of student teaching a girl raised her hand and I called her by name. She was confused! She asked HOW DO YOU KNOW MY NAME! I replied that I had been paying attention! My cooperating teacher said that she did not realize that I had the chart in front of me and that it would help me if the thought that I knew their name. THey would be less likely to goof around. It was pretty smooth.
Good luck.

Answer 3

I have the same problem every year. Some kids just seem easier to distinguish. This year I keep mixing up two girls. They are really irritated by it. I'm trying hard, too!

Louise is innovative! I have always used the Carson-Dellosa type name tags and find I rely on them too much. This year I have some of the same students in 5th grade that I had in 2nd! Those are obviously easy to remember! Just like anything else you need to memorize, find something about the student to remember. Also, learning just a few each day is probably more effective than trying to memorize them all at once,

Answer 4

Might not seem appropriate, but relate their names to something physical about their appearance and about the first time you met them. Example, if their name is Bob and have blond hair and they shook your hand, the B in blonde will trigger you to remember that they "bobbed" their hand up and down. Takes some practice, but you can stretch your imagination when you first meet someone.

If you have to remember a LOT of kids names all at once, try playing a "game" with your students. Each takes a turn, one at a time. Each has to say their own name, then the name of the student behind them, and then behind them and so on. When they mess up, the next person gets a chance. The first person to name all students gets a prize. You tell them this is so they can learn each name, but it's really YOU that is learning. Do this everyday for the first week or two of class. You'll never have trouble again!

Answer 5

I bought these desk nameplates on Carson Dellosa and I wrote every students' name on it with black marker and taped it to the front of their desk. I was planning on using it for just a couple of weeks, but the kids loved them so much they stayed up for the whole year! The best thing about this is that you can call on students' participation by name, even if you don't remember it.

Answer 6

Some years, I have the same problem! Then, I make a seating chart. Not assigned seating, but a simple chart that I make for myself and substitutes. I don't call names during roll call; I simply look at the chart. If someone is not in his/her seat, I ask the class, "Where's Johnny/Jane?" If the student is simply not in the correct seat, I make him/her move. Eventually, I learn all their names.

Answer 7

I address them by their first and last names whenever possible. Then eventaully I get one of the names to stick. (Plus-if you are teaching siblings over the years you can still call someone Ms. Ramirez and be right!) I teach music so I teach every child in the school, 375, and it helps me to remember their names if I review the list of who is coming into class in the minute before the class comes in.

Answer 8

Maybe you can try sitting them in A B C order in the class room and then everyday when you check role you will remember there names and where they sit!

Answer 9

Use a seating chart with all the kids' names on them.

Answer 10

I have over 100 students in gym class everyday.You think YOU have problems !
We have 9 periods of gym class.We have a total of 940 middle school students.I can tell you a handful of names