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Now, the first thing that you need to do, even in a large group, no matter how difficult
it is, are learn the students names. It is very important that you learn their names,
and that you are able to identify them by name. Well you say, how can I learn two hundred
students names, or more? Well, there's some several things that you could do. Obviously,
the first one is name tags, which is my least favorite, but it's certainly an option. You
can also consider tents, name tents. If you teach in a classroom or you're established
in a classroom where there's some desks or large tables, put up name tents. My favorite
thing to do, is to have every student give me a photograph of themselves on a three by
five index card with their name written on it. And, that way I can look through the cards
and I can learn to put names with faces. Something else that you can do, is you can promise to
your students that you will learn their names, and then that puts a lot of pressure on you
because you don't want to break your promise. Another option, which is not one of my all
time favorites, but it works for certain settings and certain classrooms, is to have the students
state their names before they ask a question, or before they speak, or when they are called
on in class. Something else that I have tried, that I've had a lot of success with is when
I'm learning students names, if I get their name wrong, I have to take them out for a
cup of coffee, and they really like that. The, probably the most important thing about
learning names is the willingness to look foolish. The willingness to call Becky, Kathy
thirteen times in a row, before you get it right. But, I cannot stress how important
it is, for you to learn your students names and give them an individuality in your classroom,
where they're more than just a number.