Autism and/ or face blindness

[Elendel]

How do you deal with it?

I should be used to it by now (and have definitely got better over the years), but we are now almost 4 weeks into the term and some students are taking offence that I still don't recognise them. This is mostly either out of context (on duty, in detention, in the hallway, on the street, swapping people with similar names and faces) or when students sneakily move seat and then I address them wrongly because I do not yet recognise them.

Some people have easy features, of course, some have annoyed me enough to know them even out and about. I'm still new to the school and some classes I don't see more often than 2x a week, but I am still overwhelmed with some names and faces. There are still 2 people in my form who look very similar that, out of context, I'd have trouble recognising. It all happens eventually, but this year I teach so many different classes AND I have all the staff to memorise, too.

Any tips or strategies, or even any sympathisers?

I don’t have any answers but I personally think 4 weeks is nothing! I have been known not to recognise all of my students after a year! There have always been a few I mix up. Usually quiet and similar looking boys who sit at the back!

Hi. I have exactly the same problem. I usually tell offended pupils that I get my sons names mixed up all the time..

They are generally with one group all day and have maybe 15 teachers names to memorise…You have about 80 members of staff and c200 kids. Don’t let it get to you..

I sometimes look at a register and pick a name and try and concentrate on learning about that pupil dururing a couple of lessons. It will take some time but at least you’ll be edging towards knowing them.