Anxious new teacher

[universitydreams]

Not sure if this is the right topic but here goes:

This September, I’ll be starting in my first teaching post. I have an anxiety disorder and I’m stressing myself out, I’m quite worried that I won’t be able to remember the names of my students as it’s quite a large secondary school which I’ll be teaching MFL in.

I tend to fixate on things which isn’t great but to ease my mind, do any teachers on here have any tips/advice on remembering students names?

Thanks :))

Put them in an alphabetical seating plan by first name til Xmas. Do same with all classes, obviously barring kids with needs to be in certain place (or manipulate your plan. Last year I flipped one class as a girl at end of alphabet had Crohn's so I put her by the door so no questions asked when she left the room).

You know top left = A/B etc.

Helps no end!! Once you've learned them then shuffle.

@BelindasGleeTeam

I’ll definitely do that, thank you I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.

Parents evening at the school I’m working at is in October and then again in 2020 sometime I believe.

If I don’t know all their names by October, what on earth should I do for parents evening?

Most schools will have the kids pics on the system so you can print them out next to their names. It's perfectly OK to have that with you in parents eve. Don't worry, use your nqt mentor and HoD, communicate difficulties, don't worry about looking like you're struggling. Good luck

Alphabetical seating plan and deliberately use their names by looking at the plan as often as possible in the first few weeks.

Then, when you think you’ve got their names according to where they sit, change the seating plan and start again. When you’re questioning or giving instructions or telling off, always use their name.

Print out photos from SIMs for each class before parents evening and look at it before you start.

Before parents evening I always go through my appointments and write brief notes about each student before parents evening. I generally don’t refer to these, but it does mean that I have thought about each kid before the evening.

Honestly you'll be fine, seating plan and most schools use SIMS which will give you pictures of the students too. You'll learn the naughtiest first but even experienced teachers take time to learn names. I taught over 400 students in an all boys school last year and by the end of the year you know them by voice as well as by face!

Blag it. That's an early PE for a teacher with lots of classes!!

You'll be fine!!!

Oh thank you all so much.

If the naughtier students names’ come first naturally, should I make more of an effort to learn the names of the quieter ones? So it balances out?

We have an electronic seating planner that allows you to add a photo so if ur not sure you can check.
You can also get a photo up of the class via SIMS if you have it at school. I use this if i end up on cover in a class i don't know.

I also just keep a paper copy of my seating plan in my planner and have it open on my desk and refer to it if needed. Just make sure any data is not showing. Our seating planner gives you this option.

I dont agree with just an alphabetical seating plan as you should be looking at ur data and seating accordingly but that would be fine as a starting point.

If its any consolation I've been teaching 15 yrs in Sept and still struggle to learn names in groups I only teach once or twice a week!
My top tips are use the kids names as often as you can. Eg good answer Sam! It sticks in your head more.
As ur wandering round pick up books to check work and read their name if needed.
I say to kids, 'remind me of your name' if i really cant remember it.

And at parents eve if ur really stuck ask for the report and say 'if i could just have the report i'll go through the target grades with you' and then look at the name!
This will only work however if parents get reports on the night!!

Hope that helps. You will be fine once you get going. Just fake it til you make it if ur feeling nervous!

With new classes I ask them to 1) wave at me when I call the register and 2) tell me their names when I speak to them if I don't use it. You can also fold paper into three, make a triangular prism and get them to write their name on it. If MFL, do it in the language you teach, like je m'appelle kabocha. (hope that's right!)

Photos on your seating plan are really helpful. Take them into parents' evening with you.

I also redo my seating plan sometimes if I have 2 similar looking students next to each other and place them next to someone who I know I'll remember (not behaviour, could be someone who has a quirky personality, unique hair, freckles, some feature that mentally helps me think X has to be Simon because Simon sits next to Amy).

When taking feedback from the class, have the students pick who goes next sometimes. E.g. X gives an answer then says "I nominate David" then you can see David when he speaks. I wouldn't do this all the time, but it's a nice technique to have.

At the end of paired work, use speaking frames so they have to say "Jemma and I discussed..."

You'll be fine when you get into things. Also, if you come over to the Staffroom board on MN there's lots of really supportive posters who'll be happy to help and offer advice.

A good mantra to live by is to speak to every child in your lesson using their name at least once every single lesson.

Definitely get to know the quieter ones. They are often the most interesting and risk being invisible.

Good luck!

Definitely rearrange the seating plan once you think you know the names because you’ll find that you don’t actually know the kid, you know their seat. Then when you see them out of context you’re screwed!

A technique that I have used in the past is, for the first lesson, turn it into a fun introduction activity. Introduce themselves with an object starting with the same letter. Eg Hi my name's Zara zebra. You are more likely to remember their names.

F. Im returning to teaching after a long break, but a new school and different subject. I didnt used to be so anxious

I was wonderng abour photos. Gdpr means we cant take them surely....

You'll be fine and you'll learn their names. Are you an nqt/trainee or is it first full time post? Make sure you tell your manager (if you feel you can) and any HR/ personell (assuming you're not on probation) about your disorder so they can support you better.

Make sure you know your triggers and patterns and be prepared to go to the G.P. as soon as you feel yourself going "down hill", antidepressants will be worth their weight in gold and save your career if you need them.

Make sure you've got a strong support network for yourself, talk to people.

1/3 of teachers are on antidepressants xxx

You'll be fine xxx

A technique that I have used in the past is, for the first lesson, turn it into a fun introduction activity. Introduce themselves with an object starting with the same letter. Eg Hi my name's Zara zebra. You are more likely to remember their names
Maybe with primary or year 7. I wouldnt try this with a year 10 class, I dont think it would make a great first impression.

Having photos on the seating plan is a definite must. Dont move the seating plan around too much in the beginning if you can avoid it. For the first week or so, everytime I ask a student a question or they put their hand up, I ask them to remind me of their name and then repeat it back to them. They won't expect you to know all their names at the end of day 1.

I was wonderng abour photos. Gdpr means we cant take them surely....
You dont take the photos yourself. the school will (should) have a photo of each student in their register programme - although probably not year 7s or new starters. It's perfectly fine to print out the names and photos to help you learn who is who, as long as they're not given to people outside of the school. Keep it in your desk drawer.

If your school has classcharts, you can create a plan of your room and then seat randomly, boys with girls, EAL together - there are lots of options.
You can then print off the seating plans complete with photos if they are available. Where I am, I can only get names for Yr 7 until the photos are done.
Failing that, if your school uses SIMS, you can still get photos but they will be in alphabetical order.
Guessing that you can use one or the other or both, you should be ok.

@universitydreams how was your first week?

I am terrible with names, but when I worked at a summer camp I knew the names of all 120 kids I taught within about a week. I think the fact that you spend a lot of time with them really quickly and that you are talking to them all the time really helps.

Bear in mind the hair brushed, tie straight, sweet-smiling version of the child who appears in their photo may bear little resemblance to the one you see last period on a Friday!

Tell the kids you have loads of names to learn and try to learn 4 more per class. Keep your seating plan in your hand and keeping using the students names when you talk to them. At the end of the lesson test your self by guessing the students names. The kids appreciate that not everything is easy to learn.

How is it going OP?

If you are teaching languages can you get the children to spell their names using the language you are teaching in each lesson, therefore they are learning how to say the letters in that language too? Or get them to spell the name of the next child, then the next child spells the next child's name until the end of the row. Last child in row spells first child's name in next row until get to very last one then they spell very first child's name. Can do this sideways, front to back, back to front every so often until everyone knows each others names!