Instructor: “Ok, who can tell me an example of a renewable resource?”
Unnamed Student Raises Hand. Your mind goes blank. You look down at your attendance sheet. Back at the student. Back at the attendance sheet. Nothing. Their name? You don’t have a clue. Embarrasing.
Instructor: “Umm… yes… you.”
This has happened to everyone. Whether it happens once in a great while or multiple times a day, Monday or Friday, when you are working with different groups of students every week and teaching multiple lesson plans, learning names can be something that is overlooked.
However, once I realized the true power of using names, I made it my goal to memorize every student’s name in each of my groups within the first hour of the first day. This may sound ambitious but learning names is very important and can actually become second nature with some practice!
Get control of this group with NAMES!
Learning names is important!
It Builds Rapport:
Dale Carnegie, the author of How to Win Friends and Influence People, one of the most significant books on self-help and leadership, once said…
“a person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”
Carnegie was convinced that humans could influence the behavior of others by changing their own behaviors. When you make an effort to learn students’ names, it shows them that you care. A student, or really any person, feels more important and worthwhile the more often you use his or her name. It sets him or her apart from the rest of the group, and demonstrates that he or she is an individual that you care about.
Although the primary responsibility of High Trails instructors to students is often a teacher, we also wear many different hats throughout the week. Caregiver, supporter, motivator, and many more. Having a good relationship that involves understanding and respect makes all of these roles a lot easier.
It Holds Students Accountable:
While High Trails instructors have the best job in the world, sometimes we have to take on a role we do not especially enjoy: the disciplinarian. However, knowing names can even make this easier. Using a name in a friendly, caring way can show a student that you care about his or her individually but you can also turn that around for a student who might have broken a rule or been disrespectful. Since you have already established a rapport, changing your tone when saying a name can make a huge impact on the behavior.
You all know what I’m talking about. Your mom has definitely pulled this “tone of voice with your name” trick on you.
Yes, that is Haley’s Mom. And she’s not happy.
When I was up to no good, all my mom had to do was say my name a certain way and I knew exactly what it meant. I was busted.
It certainly works on me and definitely on many students as well. Sometimes a glance and a name can be enough to warrant a response and get the “tsk tsk” message across. Besides, if you have already established rapport between you and the students, the “mischief-maker” will not want to disappoint you or the rest of the class.
Of course, this can only work a few times before it can become clear that maybe a new tactic is needed.
Learning names is easy!
I happen to be a master of names, but it does not come naturally. Since I believe name memorization is crucial to success, I’ve developed a lot of tips and tricks I use to help me remember names.
Play games where students can use each other’s names:
Instructors are not the only ones at High Trails who might not know everyone’s name. Especially in a field group, the students might not all be friends. They come from different classrooms and social groups so having them play games where they can use each other’s names helps not only you but them also! These are good to play on the first day so that you can observe and try to memorize. Here are examples of some good games that involve using names:
- Bug-a-low
- Bippity-Boppity-Boo
- Name Ninja
- Zap
- Peek-a-Who/Tarp game
“Peek-A-Who”!
Visual tips:
A lot of people have trouble remembering names out of thin air. Use your resources! On the first day, I look down at my attendance sheet for the first 30 minutes or so when calling on students.
As a visual learner, seeing their names on paper and matching that up with a face solidifies it for me.
Sometimes, I even take notes on my sheet to help me remember. I recommend not writing anything about what the students are wearing because chances are they will be wearing something completely different the next day. But take notes about their backpacks or hair color, height or anything that will help you when you need a hint.
Also, for that name you just keep mispronouncing, ask one of the student’s friends how it is properly pronounced and then write in some phonetic tips. Try not to make your attendance sheet too messy though or then you’ll just be squinting at some illegible scribbles all day.
Use names as often as possible!
This is the best advice I can give. Practice makes perfect, right? Students will be understanding when you forget their names the first couple times, as long as you are trying. So let’s get out there and become masters of names!
Here are some references I like:
- http://www.businessinsider.com/lessons-from-how-to-win-friends-and-influence-people-2015-4
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/career-coach-the-power-of-using-a-name/2014/01/10/8ca03da0-787e-11e3-8963-b4b654bcc9b2_story.html
At High Trails Outdoor Science School, we literally force our instructors to write about elementary outdoor education, teaching outside, learning outside, our dirty classroom (the forest…gosh), environmental science, outdoor science, and all other tree hugging student and kid loving things that keep us engaged, passionate, driven, loving our job, digging our life, and spreading the word to anyone whose attention we can hold for long enough to actually make it through reading this entire sentence. Whew…. www.dirtyclassroom.com
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