How Do You Remember
Their Names?
by Fred Maybee
It's only natural that students
like to hear their own names. It's a sign of respect when we, as teachers,
use our students' names when addressing them. For the most part, they will
return the favour and address us properly. While, most of us will eventually
learn first names or nicknames, there are teachers who still like to address
their students by their surname calling them Mr. Wentzell, or Miss Gibson.
Now, it’s September and,
amidst all of the paperwork, we must get to know our students.
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As an itinerant elementary
school music specialist, I taught as many as 18 full classes in a year
in three schools and saw them for only two 30-minute sessions each week.
Typically, the names of more than 400 students appeared in my plan book.
By the end of week three, I could associate the correct face with each
given name. Margin of error: about 5%.
Let me share with you some
of the tricks I used to get to know each child by name.
1. Don't rely too heavily
on the class lists you are given in September. They are sometimes not up
to date, and the occasional typo appears. By the end of the month, more
accurate lists will be available. Some names have unusual spellings and
to attempt to pronounce them while your face is in the paper moves your
attention away from the children in your classroom.
2. Name games are fun. The
point is for you to learn the names but this is also a good way for all
students to get to know each other. Choose level-appropriate rhymes and
songs. A few minutes of this each day of September will help a lot. Here
are a few suggestions:
For early
grades - After you have introduced yourself, you can sing the question,
"What is your name?", using the syllables me, soh, and lah. s,m-l,s,m.
(This phrase is the same as they would use on the playground when teasing
each other. For example. "Jenn has a boyfriend.") Your new little friend
will probably just say his name. "Bobby." You can show that you'd like
him to sing it by singing to him, "My name is Bobby." As you ask for names
around the room, soon they will begin to respond as you have requested.
Meanwhile, you are using their names several times already while making
visual contact.
For those
a bit older - try the name song called Hey Loddie!. For this you'll have
to do some thinking on your feet to find a rhyme for each name,
I know a girl and her name
is Kelly,
Hey, Loddie, Loddie-oh!
She likes peanut butter
and jelly
Hey, Loddie, Loddie-oh!etc.
The middle elementary grades
like these silly rhymes. Ask if someone has a name you can borrow. Get
them to say their name. That way, there's no confusion about how to pronounce
it. Let's use John's name. (Where the italics are, make the word rhyme
with their name.)
John, John, Bo Bohn,
Banana Bana Fo Fohn,
Me, My, Mo Mohn.
. . John
OR
John Dee-Ohn, Tee-Ohn,
Go-Fohn,
Tee-legged, Toe-legged,
Bow-legged John
OR
John Bom Bohn Stiggar
- Ohn Go Fohn
Stiggar - Ohn Go Fohn
That's how we spell John
You can often tell if someone
is giving you a fictitious name, and you will know that they want to trick
you into saying something funny. "Do Mitch", they'll say. Lots of choices
here. Do Mitch, but use the Hey Loddie song. Or, ask Mitch for his full
name and use his surname. Or use the name of the student who made the suggestion
on behalf of Mitch. All the while, you're having fun and making visual
contact. (Oh, Yes! I like to use a guitar as I do this too, and walk about
the room a bit to allow a closer visual contact.)
3. Ask by what name they
prefer to be known. If you notice that the class register has their name
different than the name they are called, ask which name they'd like you
to use. It may be a nickname or their middle name. Make a note of it so
you need not ask again.
4. If you forget a name,
it's a simple correction to say AI always want to call you Ashley, but
it's not, is it? It's . . ." and let them fill in the blanks. "Ashton.
That's it. I've got it now."
5. Include the quiet ones
too. Don't leave them behind. There are so many other ways to get to know
the vocal ones that you won't have to work hard at it. You will have to
be intentional about using the names of those who sit quietly and don't
demand attention.
6. Finally, get to know the
names early in the school year - within the first few days - so that you
are then comfortable about getting on with the next tasks ahead of you.
Years from now, you'll be
in the mall and being certain that you know a former student, you will
use their correct name. They may look at you as though they can't quite
place you. Then their mom will say, "You remember your old music teacher,
dear." Wink, nod, and keep on walking, happy that you were remembered,
even if you are "old music teacher". It could be worse.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fred Maybee taught for 25
years and is now a substitute music teacher. He is owner-manager of Baylite
Studios Web Designers, and the publisher-editor of this newsletter.
