Cult of Pedagogy 023 and 068

Part 1: Pronouncing Names... Butchering Roll Call

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  • Last updated October 7, 2021 at 7:21 AM by sweethome
  • Evidence visible to public
The "Gift of Pronunciation" can go a long way for students in your class!

From the Episode:

Gonzalez discusses the “gift of pronunciation” that was the topic of a 2014 blog post.  In the first part, Jennifer reviews ‘butchered’ roll calls and identifies three kinds of scenarios.  1) fumble-bumblers, 2) arrogant manglers, and 3) calibrators.  With each of the three ‘camps’ there are different consequences.  This segment will challenge you to think about these scenarios and what the effects might have on students.

Listen Here:

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/gift-of-pronunciation/
  1. Click on the episode link above.
  2. Listen to the segment (00:00 - 11:35)

Evidence of Learning:

  1. What do you Think??  REFLECT:  Perhaps you have a name or you can recall a classmate with a difficult name to pronounce.  Predictably, year after year, teachers butcher the same name.  What was the outcome?  Was it awkward, long-lasting, humiliating?  What was the impact??
  2. Now What??  How might you become a “calibrator?”  What steps will you take this school year to learn student names properly in your class?  (avoid a side-show!)

All posted evidence

Part 1 Response

I have definitely had classmates in the past who this has happened too. I have always felt bad for those students. I think that most teachers actively try to correct this. I definitely have taken this as a learning experience.  As a teacher, I always make a conscious effort to ask my students how to say their names correctly. It's important to me that they feel acknowledged and respected. Even if I initially make a mistake, I ensure that they correct me, and I actively work on getting it right in the future. I want my students to know that their names matter to me, and I value their identities. Building a positive relationship with my students starts with something as simple, yet significant, as knowing and saying their names correctly.
emily-balisteri Over 2 years ago

Pronouncing Names

I went from bad to worse- Sturniolo to Reichmuth so I've never had an easy-to-pronounce Smith or Jones name- and I must admit I was always jealous of that as a quiet people pleaser who would just say, "That's fine," no matter how someone pronounced it! This podcast makes me feel super guilty about Jaroslav Delapadraha from elementary school. Students always laughed when teachers came to his name on the roster! I am sure I misspelled it- but that was how it sounded! It was very humiliating but I remember Jaroslav was always a good sport about it- or at least appeared to be. I remember students would repeat the wrong way the teachers would say it- which is horrible! Unfortunately, he was a nice kid who I guess came to expect that his name would not be pronounced correctly.
I'm not sure I am a calibrator yet- but I do try to master every student's name. I must admit- I may perform a bit of a sideshow- by breaking the name down phonetically on the board to refer to- I honestly didn't think about that being so bad. I make a genuine effort- but I now know to be more private about it. Just this year I had a new student named Thushaniga in my class. Two-s-on-i-kah. It took me a few days to get it! But, I didn't give up! I always put in my sub plans the phonetic spelling of the more difficult names. 
I think is it incredibly important to pronounce students' names correctly. We use books in the beginning of the year to talk about how we got our names and why they are so important- The Name Jar and Chrysanthemum and I try to have students share how they would like their names pronounced. 
What I still wonder about is the student who says their name is Nana (like the end of banana) but when Mom came for a conference she pronounced it Nonna. I mentioned it but the child still insists Nana so I respect that. 
Additionally, a student who is in 4th grade whose name was spelled incorrectly in Power School - labeled wrong on everything- and he never said anything until I noticed. How does THAT happen? It definitely makes me more cognizant of cherishing the students' identities! The least I can do is try to pronounce the name correctly! 

hjreichmuth Over 2 years ago

My daughter, Kaylins name misponounced almost daily. if you don’t take the time to learn a persons name, you’re saying they don’t matter.

karen-young Over 2 years ago

Part 1 Response

I find it hard to believe that the people I work with are not mostly trying to be calibrators.  I am far from perfect with this but,  from year 1 to now year 22 here at SHCSD, names are not getting easier to pronounce and they are quite often names that I have not come across before.  I very much try to get it right and ask students to assist so I can. I have, I am sure, been guilty of putting a kid on the spot who may not enjoy that spotlight during class.  Doing these things in private or after class makes sense. I think it is important to at the very least let them know that you find it important to get it right.  The hardest time I ever had was during covid with masks on.  Hearing the students pronounce was 1 thing, but I typically do well when I can put a name to a face in my classes.  That made things tough and I recall asking students if I was saying their name correctly more than a few times when we first met.
brent-peterson Over 2 years ago

The realization of cultural mindfulness and students humiliation in school

Reflection: My last name is one that is difficult to pronounce, and my principal pronounced it incorrect from kindergarten through 8th grade. I remember my family trying to correct her informally, but she never really wanted to listen. Year after year, I knew it was coming when she called my name at assemblies or award ceremonies. I felt like she wasn't even calling me. Because that name was not who I was. In learning about the "calibrators", I realized how extra important it is for us as teachers to not make a "show" out of trying to pronounce the students name in front of the class. I never looked at it from that perspective before. I think it is so much more respectful to the student and their culture to handle it this way, and one that I will definitely be more mindful of in the future. 
clwach82 Over 2 years ago

It is essential to make students feel seen and heard and acknowledging their identity is a huge part of this!

As an educator I believe in creating an environment where students feel valued and their identities are celebrated. It is important that we get to know students and the pronunciation of their name from the first day of school. If a name is difficult, having that private conversation with the student one-on-one to work on the pronunciation is important to them to make it known you are making an effort and care to learn the correct way to say their name. A name is our identity and it is ignorant to turn a blind eye to pronouncing a students name wrong. It should be one of the first things you learn during the first week of school to make that student feel respected, valued, seen, and heard!
hannahcriscione Almost 3 years ago

Reflection

  1. What do you Think??  REFLECT:  Perhaps you have a name or you can recall a classmate with a difficult name to pronounce.  Predictably, year after year, teachers butcher the same name.  What was the outcome?  Was it awkward, long-lasting, humiliating?  What was the impact?? Every year I have students with "unique" names--that is just what comes with being an ENL teacher! Our students names are a part of who they are--their culture, their heritage, their identity. I've seen students become so embarrassed by teachers who continually mispronounce their names. They don't know how to advocate for themselves and correct the teachers. 
  2. Now What??  How might you become a “calibrator?”  What steps will you take this school year to learn student names properly in your class?  (avoid a side-show!) Simply ask! Also, empower students to advocate for themselves and correct others when their name is mispronounced. This can be through teaching sentence frames, creating scenarios, and modeling. 
emily-mielcarek Almost 3 years ago

Student names are a part of their identity.

Each year my list of students looks different. Each student name is unique.  It is important to get to know your children as individuals, and their name is a part of their identity.  I will take the time to hear how students pronounce their own names, and practice repeating until I have "calibrated" myself.
melissa-erikson Almost 3 years ago

This podcast is great. She is spot on about the types of people that butcher names. It makes me feel better about what I do.

I definitely can empathize with this podcast. I know that my name is east but yet some people still choose to change it how they want to say it. This has always made me want to ask kids or apologize in advance so that I can be sure to try and get it right. And getting it right the first time doesn’t always happen. But the tips for writing the phonetic name next to it is exactly what I will do. More people need to listen to this. I hope she puts out more podcasts that are relatable for all teachers. 
diana-calandra Almost 3 years ago

Part 1

  1. What do you Think??  REFLECT:  Perhaps you have a name or you can recall a classmate with a difficult name to pronounce.  Predictably, year after year, teachers butcher the same name.  What was the outcome?  Was it awkward, long-lasting, humiliating?  What was the impact??
    1. My child's name is Natalia. I named her that because it ethnic to her culture and presumably easy to say in English. Or so I thought. Most Spanish names need that umph to be said correctly and I thought I had found that in her name. Teachers would call and ask me if I was Na-tah-Lee-ya's mom. Or even just say Natalie. My poor mother in law calls her Nuh-taaaal-yuh almost as though she were southern. My daughter would reply is Nah-tal-lea. She didn't like having to tell someone more than once. I think the worst for her was when people tried to over Spanish it and it sounded like something off of a telenovela. Eventually she gave up correcting people but she deserves to have her name properly announced.  
  2. Now What??  How might you become a “calibrator?”  What steps will you take this school year to learn student names properly in your class?  (avoid a side-show!)
    1. I have indeed pronounced names incorrectly in the past. At my last school I had a student named Ghayeth. I said it wrong so many times he kindly said just call me G. When I came to Sweet Home I also had a Ghayeth and I was so blessed to have students kindly correct me. I know its important and I want to give them the respect of saying their name properly. I was saying Guh-Hay-eth. It's actually pronounced as like one and a half syllable and the G and H together but not the English sound of GH. I wish I could find my previous student and show him that I finally learned to say it correctly. I will continue to learn how to say my student's name properly by practicing and showing a genuine desire to learn. 
jessicawhitcomb Almost 3 years ago

Part 1

  1. What do you Think??  REFLECT:  Perhaps you have a name or you can recall a classmate with a difficult name to pronounce.  Predictably, year after year, teachers butcher the same name.  What was the outcome?  Was it awkward, long-lasting, humiliating?  What was the impact??
I had a fairly simple last name, but few pronounced it correctly. It was Traynor (emphasis on the "or), but everyone said "trainer". That didn't bother me so much, but the nicknames sometimes did (physical trainer, potty trainer etc...). I also have a fairly simple first name, but many teachers insisted on calling me Caroline or Carolyn, although it is just Carol on my birth certificate. Knowing this I try to take my time to learn my students names, their actual names, and ask for preferred nicknames if they have them. My friend, Apostole, was first generation Greek American and people had been calling him "Uh-Bust-uh-luh" ( busty, for short) for so long that I remember being surprised when I first saw the spelling of his name and heard his mom say "Ah-post-o-lay". It stuck with him though grade school and only really got corrected when he moved onto college. He was a good sport about it, but when he pushed for the correct way later on he showed a lot of pride in his heritage versus embarrassment.
  1. Now What??  How might you become a “calibrator?”  What steps will you take this school year to learn student names properly in your class?  (avoid a side-show!)
I am happy to say that I already identified most with the calibrators while listening to the podcast. Although at the beginning of my career I sure was a fumbler bumbler. At the start of the year when I do roll and my seating chart I write phonetic spelling next to the names on my roster. I also explicitly tell my students that I want to say their name right, apologize in advance that it may take me time, and give them permission to butcher my name daily if I don't get it right. I may check out the website mentioned in the podcast that allows me to listen to pronunciations in private before I have a student repeat it too many times and save on a side show.
carol-kamph Almost 3 years ago

Part 1 - Pronouncing Names

  1. What do you Think??  REFLECT:  Perhaps you have a name or you can recall a classmate with a difficult name to pronounce.  Predictably, year after year, teachers butcher the same name.  What was the outcome?  Was it awkward, long-lasting, humiliating?  What was the impact??
  2. Now What??  How might you become a “calibrator?”  What steps will you take this school year to learn student names properly in your class?  (avoid a side-show!)

My maiden name is Polish and definitely difficult but not nearly as difficult as the names some of my friends had growing up. Year after year, some of my friends became so exhausted trying to correct teachers/others who would say their name that they gave up and just "went along" with what was being said for their name. This always angered me because I truly believe everyone's names are specifically chosen for them by parents and even last names have meaning to ones culture/background. It's so important to get pronunciation correct as this is showing a basic sign of respect that "I value your name and want to make sure I am pronouncing it correctly to show you that respect you deserve." 
One of the things I value most about myself is that I am a calibrator for my students and the people that I meet in my day to day life. Especially being an ENL teacher, I find it extremely important that I am able to pronounce my student's names correctly, and sometimes I'll even make them say it everyday multiple times a day until I make sure I get it right. I find that this automatically creates a bond with the student that, again, I respected them to make sure I pronounced their name correctly. It was also extremely important to me as a new teacher that kids provided the same respect for me and pronounced my maiden name correctly. I've also found that many students names (in other languages) have meaning to them and the students love to tell the story - this further creates more importance on the fact that we need to ensure we are calibrating ourselves to our students names! 
jessica-sears About 3 years ago