As an elementary or middle school art teacher, we are often tasked with remembering the names of 600-900 kids at a time. Not an easy task. Add to the amount of times you may switch buildings and over a lifetime of teaching, that's a LOT of names. We all know that classroom management gets easier when you can address students by their name. And yes, they know "sweetie" and "buddy" aren't their real names.
One of the easiest hacks that I use for remembering student names is to have them design a name plate.
Using basic construction paper or card stock, students can make a folded table tent that will stand up and be seen from the front of the room. I like to slip in the element of line with this activity and do a little negative space / implied line lesson. It lets them be makers on the first day and that goes a long way.
I know many teachers like to have students decorate a folder, but this lays flat on the table and can be hard to see. Students often make the name small or hard to read. When the name BECOMES the focal point (hey, there's more art vocabulary we're knocking out) you will get something that is much easier to read.
The tents are stackable, so if you don't use folders, a class set takes up very little space. You can color code them so you know which go on which table. They flatten out and can be placed inside a table folder at the end of each session. It gives the kids a sense of ownership in their space. Sometimes at a shared table, it's hard to find that. But you will notice them keeping their area clean, because you know who sits there.
If you need a lesson plan with a video demo, this is what I use.
No comments:
Post a Comment