Creating Welcoming Spaces

Ideas

Idea #5: Learning Student Names

"Honoring a student's name early within the academic year creates an inclusive environment in the classroom and helps students thrive. The ending result of this practice is mutual respect. Once respect is gained from the student, the learning can fall into place. Students will be more able to access where you want them to go with the curriculum." —Lafayette College

Learning Intentions

Learning student names can help students feel like they belong in the space, encourage them to be more engaged, and begin to build a learning community. Taking the time to learn correct pronunciations and preferred names may seem like a monumental task, but it can break down barriers, support relationships, and help students feel valued.

Strategies

  • Say it: Have students say their name before a question, comment, or icebreaker. Say their name when speaking to them, too, and ask for clarification of pronunciation.
  • Name Tents: Have students write their names (pronunciation and pronouns optional) on folded cardstock and some information like major or interests.
  • Name Tent Notes: Each day they attend, have students use the back side to write a short note or drawing for the teacher to collect and respond to.
  • Association: Mentally connect the student's name to an image, or a fact about them, preferably one that logically connects to their name.
  • Photo Roster: If available, download and memorize names with a photo roster.
  • Take notes: Use the roster to add some association, image, mnemonic, or fact to connect to the name if you can.
  • Build an Identity: Focus on forming a gender-concept of a student to help connect them with their name as a man/woman/nonbinary.

ASAR Method

  • Attend: Pay close attention.
  • Say: Speak the name as much as possible; ask if said correctly.
  • Associate: Build connections relevant to the person.
  • Retrieve: Practice using names, pulling from memory immediately and over time.

Icebreakers

  • Pair & Share: Provide a prompt to discuss with a partner before introducing each other. What's in a Name? Have each student share something about their name; the meaning, origin, fun fact, or why their family chose it; include option to share pronouns.
  • Name Game: Have students say their name and something they would take to a party starting with the same letter, and then each next student must say each name/object combination before them, then add their own.

Resources