Tips for Learning Students Names and Remembering Them

Learning your students names is essential if you want to create a good rapport and establish a comfortable atmosphere in the classroom. Teachers who learn students names quickly, help reduce feelings of anxiety and nervousness that most students experience during the first few weeks back to school. Here are a variety of tips and tricks to help you remember names and ease those first week jitters. Seating Chart Use a seating chart for the first few weeks of school until you can put names and faces together. Greet Students by Name Everyday greet your students by name. When they enter the classroom make sure to use their name in a short comment. Pair Students in Groups Create a quick questionnaire about what the likes and dislikes of your students are. Then group them together according to their choices. The point of this activity is to help you remember students by associating them with their preferences. Wear Name Tags For the first week or so have students wear name tags. For the younger children, place the name tag on their back so they wont feel the urge to rip it off. Name Cards Place a name card at each students desk. This is not only a great way for you to remember their names, but it will help the classmates remember as well. Memorize by Number Beginning the first day of school, strive to memorize a set number of students each day. You can memorize by number, color, name etc. Use a Mnemonic Device Associate each student with something physical. Relate the students name, such as George, with the Gorge. (Quinn with a pin) Associate Related Names A great memory trick is to associate a name with a person you know that has the same name. For example, if you have a student named Jimmy who has short brown hair, then imagine your brother Jimmys long hair on little Jimmys head. This visual link will help you remember little Jimmys name in no time. Create a Rhyme Create a silly rhyme to help you remember students names. Jim is slim, Kim likes to swim, Jake likes snakes, Jill can juggle, etc. Rhymes are a fun way to help you learn and remember quickly. Use Photographs Have students bring in a photo of their-self on the first day, or take a picture of each student yourself. Place their photo next to their name on your attendance or seating chart. This will help you correlate and remember names with faces. Create Photo Flashcards To help you remember students names quickly, take photos of each child and create photo flashcards. Photo Memory Game Take photos of each student and then create a photo memory game with them. This is a great activity for the students to learn their classmates faces, as well as give you a chance to learn them too! Play Im Going on a Trip Game Have students sit in a circle on the carpet and play the Im going on a trip game. The game begins like this, My name is Janelle, and I am taking sunglasses with me. The next student says, Her name is Janelle, and she is taking sunglasses with her and my name is Brady and I am taking a toothbrush with me. Go around the circle until all students have gone and you are the last to go. With you being the last person to recite all the students names, you will be surprised how many you remember. Being able to identify a student by name make a take a few weeks but with these tips and tricks you will learn them in no time. Just like all the other back to school procedures and routines, it takes time and patience, but it will come.