How many times have you wanted to call on a student only to remember that you forgot their name? You mean well, but for the life of you, the students’ name has totally slipped your mind. As a middle school elective teacher, I average about 180 students every year. Luckily for me, my school is really small. For others, that number can be as high as 500 or more for larger middle schools.
The easiest way for me to remember student’s names is to have them create name tags(name tents). They are super fun for the students to decorate and quickly help you remember their names while building a relationship with them.
I usually have my students keep them out for the first two months–at least. They usually take a class period to decorate them. They have the option of creating their own style or use these editable templates. You can use something sturdy like Astrobrights Cardstock to print them on to ensure they last.
Either way, it helps me remember their names quickly and build a better relationship with them. Depending on what the students write on their tents, is how I remember. For example, anytime a student is a Florida State Seminole or Tampa Bay Rays fan, I have their names remembered in no time. Likewise for my opponents such as the Florida Gators or New York Yankees. I use their goals, sports, movies, foods, vacation locations, or just about anything to help me make a connection with my students. Students like to know they have something in common with their teacher. I think it will allow for them to let their guards down and make learning easier for them.
Do you have any tips for remembering your student’s name quickly? Leave them in the comment section below.
Happy Teaching
