How do you learn up to 1000 students' names each year? It's a daunting task and I'm sharing practical advice that I've collected over the years from other music teachers to help you!
This topic seems to pop up in the music teacher groups like clockwork each year - how in the world do I keep track of hundreds of names as the students come and go like a revolving door? Names are important and I have tried a few ways to help myself that might be helpful for you!
First - keep a seating chart. I know the free spirits out there are going to resist - but hear me out. You don't have to keep them in their assigned seat all the time, or even most of the time. But students thrive on structure and one simple structure is to start class in their assigned spot so that you can visually match a student face with a written name.
Just like our students have different learning styles, so do we! After greeting the class at the door, I close my eyes and pick someone (from the chart) to lead the short greeting/warmup. Saying their first and last name out loud while looking at them, and seeing their name in print really does help!
Pro-tip: This year I learned how to use the seating chart feature on PowerSchool so that I can have the students' photographs on my seating chart - game changer! You can also do this on iDoceo by taking a photo of each child the first few weeks of school.
After the warmup, you can have students come sit closer to the board, or make a circle, or choose a seat around the piano - whatever works for your teaching style. And of course, it's great to have a seating chart to go back to at the end of the lesson. It not only helps you to see them in their "spots" again, but also provides a bit of closure as they transition to their next learning environment.
Second - Practice saying their names! I know this seems obvious, but sometimes we miss the obvious - it's going to take some focused practice. I like to get out the previous year's seating charts, or a yearbook to help with this. (Borrow one from the library if you can - you might be able to make photocopies for educational purposes if needed.)
If I can practice a few minutes a day before school starts, then I feel like I'm ahead of the game. I can try to have most of the "old heads'" names remembered before school starts so that all I have to do is add the new students.
Pro Tip: Just like studying for a college exam, your practice sessions should be intentional. Print off the whole sheet of photos, and cross off the obvious ones you already know (kids who got a part in the play, kids you go to church with or know their parents, kids who have a unique characteristic that helps your memory). Cut the remaining photos into "flashcards" - these are the ones that need practice. Keep the set in your car or in your kitchen and plan to swipe through them as often as you can. As you learn names, you can remove their card from the stack.
If you don't have photos of the students ahead of time, plan to take a minute and get a class photo of each class on the first week of school. Print it off and write the names on it. The kinesthetic experience of writing their names also helps!
Third - name games! Of course this is a fun way to try to remember students' names. There are so many to choose from, but here are ten of my favorites!
Add a "Say Your Name" to the end of a song:
1. Ickle Ockle - Turn the lyrics into a name game (chanted or singing).
"Ickle ockle, blue bottle, fishes in the sea,
Can you say your first name to little old me?
My name is Kayla, Your name is Kayla."
2. Hickety Tickety - This song is perfect for Kinder and first grade! They love singing their name to the little bee puppet!
"Hickety tickety bumblebee!
Can you sing your name to me?
My name is Brayden,
Your name is Brayden."
Find an object or identify who has the object:
3. Who has the ghost/pumpkin/reindeer/valentine/shamrock/bunny? - Sister Lorna Zemke has the best holiday song for Kindergarten, first and second grade. Pass a toy or picture or small manipulative around the circle until the word stop. You can play with any object!
"The pumpkin goes around and around and around and around and around.
The pumpkin goes around and around and around and around and stop!
Who has the pumpkin? Jada has the pumpkin!"
4. Any guessing game that you hide an object and try to guess who has it. (Cookie Jar; Muele que Muele; Doggie, Doggie; King's Land, etc.)
Change the character or animal to a student's name:
5. Mother, Mother - Add a student's name in place of Mother.
"Janilyah, Janilyah, I feel sick!
Call for the doctor, Quick! Quick! Quick!"
Add-on movement games:
6. All 'Round the Brickyard - Say the name of the student who is next after the list of motions.
"All 'round the brickyard, remember me,
All 'round the brickyard, remember me!
You've gotta disco, disco, disco
and a-wash it, wash it, wash it, and a-remember me!
Jessie!"
Songs with names:
The easiest way to practice names is to incorporate students' names into a song that already has a name in it. This simple switch is a lifesaver when you want to learn names, but don't have a lot of time to devote to it.
7. Bow Wow Wow - Add a student's name in place of Tommy Tucker's name.
"Bow Wow Wow!
Who's dog art thou?
Little Kaden Tucker's dog,
Bow, wow, wow!"
8. Are You Sleeping, Little Sally Water, or Lazy Mary - My students love to pretend to be sleeping in the middle of the circle.
9. Paw Paw Patch - Change the name and words around the name if needed.
"Where, oh where, is our friend Alondra?
Where, oh where, is our friend Alondra?
Where, oh where, is our friend Alondra?
10. Bounce High, Bounce Low - I use beach balls, but if you use a recess ball or a yarn ball, too could try rolling the bar across the circle to the person whose name you called.
"Bounce high, bounce low,
Bounce the ball to Mackenzie."
Bonus: One that you probably don't want to hear - volunteer to be the "caller" for car rider duty. This puts a few hundred (or more) names in front of you every day, plus you potentially get to see them in family groups, which helps for recognition.
What do you do to help remember all those names? Comment below or join the conversation on Facebook!
Lori Sweet
Sweet Sounds
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