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Remembering Names

I will be teaching my first course. I have trouble remembering names. In a large class, what is a good way to imprint students names in my memory?

To remember each student name, try to embed a membery in my brain from their introduction speech on the first day of classs. I always add extra things for them to tell me about themselves to have more to remember. Although sometimes my quiet students i still may forget, overall i can remember most. Also, making a seating chart will help also. I don't do it because some students sit in different places each class but i substituted for an instructor that lived by it.

Hi Markita,
I have even known some instructors to use name tents to help them memorize students names.

Patricia Scales

I understand completely I have the same problem memorizing names when instructing a large class. Initially, I rely heavily on name tents and my roster. I find after the 1st week of class I am more familiar with the students names.

Hi Lisa,
Name tents work beautifully with memorizing names.

Patricia Scales

On day one, we do an activity. Each student introduces themself and gives a reason as to why they chose to be in this career and one fact about themself. The next student introduces themself, why they are here and one fact, but now they have to give the name of the person before them. The third student introduces and has to name the previous two students. The repeating of names helps myself remember the students and and it also gives me information about each student. Kind of getting to know my students through others.

I find having students read aloud key elements in lecture helps me to remember names as I have to call on the student using the roster and when they begin reading I am able to associate their face and where they sit.

I have had tried many different methods to help learn students' names.

One method that has worked best for me (and I believe the effectiveness of methods varies by the instructor) is to associate an adjective with the name that begins with the same letter as that name (e.g. Jolly Julie, Tall Tyler)

I have also used an icebreaker involving a word search of all of the students' names. Creating the word search and participating helps familiarize myself with the student names in the class.

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