What tricks do teachers use to remember students' names?

Question

...besides a seating chart.

Or do most teachers just go off plain memory?

Answer 1

I started at a new school (being a grade school music teacher i had 600 new students at once...and no, I didn't learn EVERYONE'S name...but a GOOD majority).

I put them up against a black board in small groups and took pictures of them, recording who was in each picture.

Then i studied the pictures every night.... like flash cards.

It really helps your relationship with your students if you know their names, and recall things that are particular about each of them.

As time goes on...it's easier than you think.

But i like the picture trick...and the kids get a kick out of having their pictures taken (like they are a celebrity), and then coming up in the hall and testing you... "ok, who am *I*?"

It's great fun!

Answer 2

Repetition and eventually you know their names by heart. The bad ones you hear their name usually before you even get them for a student. The quiet A students you learn their names fast by grading papers. The average c student that's no trouble is the hardest to remember, but once you put a face to a name, it's easy. Some kids I give a little nick name too that they like if their name is really really long. Figure apx 40 weeks of the same groups of kids, same names on the roll book, same seats than after a while you just remember their names. This one usually needs to take a rest room break everyday at this time, that on is always later, this one talks all through class. You end up spending more time with them than their parents do and some will even tell you that they wish you were their mom. Teachers can just do it. Kids kind of grow on you.

Answer 3

I memorize the list I get before the kids come in so I have a heads up on names -that way I can make a connection immediately "oh YOU'RE megan williams!" :)
On the first day of school, I play a game with the kids to memorize their names, too. It helps them get to know each other, too. Each kid takes turns saying "I'm going camping. I'm Megan so I'm taking a melon." -they have to say their name and a noun that begins with their initial letter. The next kid says "I'm going camping. Megan's taking a melon, I'm Tim and I'm taking a trombone." It's a memory game, and builds. The kids think it's great, I get to hear the names twenty times and associate it with an object to remember the first letter. By the end I usually can get them all! :) Trick that works!
Also, since I now have a digital camera, I set up a backdrop and have a volunteer take a picture of each student. I use these for so many things throughout the year in the class. It helps learn the kids in the first few days!

Answer 4

They start to endear themselves to you after a couple of days--so you just learn them without tricks. (But, I'm an elementary school teacher so I have the same kids all day--so I may not be as good a source for this as a middle school or high school teacher.) I still mess up pretty often and call them someone else. But, it's not really because I can't remember their names it's the same reason that I call my daughter by the dog's name or my dog my daughter's name--just a weird brain fart thing or something. (I know my daughter isn't the dog, or that kid isn't that other kid I just called him.)

Answer 5

the teachers have 100% good memories for name and permit me to show to how.

Many years in a junior high school, of nearly 400 students, I was told to go to a math class and begin to learn math although I really didnt need it.

Anyways I went to the teacher to find out, from time to time, if my assignment was done properly and my teacher told me yes.

A few days later, because I was sick in bed, she remember my name because I did not mention it to her at all. What I am aiming at is yesthe teachers do have an excellent memory for names.

Just a few months back, I went to see her (my math teacher after 30 + years or so) and until that day she remembered by name.

Answer 6

I taught high school so every year I had about 130 names to learn. I would make a seating chart and carry it around with me when I asked questions or passed out papers. When my students were doing class work or a test I would test myself on their names by looking up and down the rows and checking to make sure I knew everyone. It takes a while, and there were always some names I would mix up anyway.

In one class I had a boy named Hajji and in another a boy named Najji. I always got Hajji right, but I wanted to call Najji the same thing.

Answer 7

Teachers don't use tricks, they remember students names the same way they rememeber people names that they may meet on the street.

Answer 8

I have the worst time remembering my students names! I find that I have to get to know things about my students to help me remembering their names as other respondents stated. I have them fill in a "getting to know you" sheet where they answer questions about their favorite music and movies as well as the general contact information stuff. When students answer questions I make sure to repeat back their names. I also try to make a bit of a joke about how I am horrible with names and have the kids play games with me to see if I can figure out their names.

Answer 9

Ask 'em to to share a hobby, interest, love, etc. to you. So if Jason says he's an actor, or likes to act, you can remember the hobby to the name. It's easier to remember someone's interest than just their name.

Answer 10

Honestly, I remember within an hour after having them in class. Ask questions and call on children using their names...you'll catch on so quickly.