Why is it important to pronounce student names correctly?

You have to make White people, like me, pronounce your name correctly.” Our names carry our family history, culture, and identities, and research shows that mispronouncing, not learning, or changing a student’s name can contribute to a student’s low sense of self-worth and feeling like they don’t belong.

How do you tell a teacher they are pronouncing your name wrong?

“Simply be honest and inform them of the correct version of your name the first time you hear them say it wrong.” Unsurprisingly, directness is your best bet. Gottsman even broke down what a potential correction could look like: Person 1: “It’s great to meet you, Julia.”

Is it rude to call a teacher by their first name?

I (and most people I know) call some of my teachers by their first name. It’s just what is normal with those specific teachers and it’s usually because they are generally acknowledged to be “cool”. Although, frankly, most of my teachers don’t mind which name you use, so long as you are respectful.

Why can’t teachers pronounce people’s names correctly?

“As a teacher, I felt that if I didn’t make an effort to pronounce their name correctly, it showed I didn’t care about who they were.” Effort is the biggest obstacle to learning how to correctly pronounce a person’s name; teachers have to want to do it, said Jennifer Gonzalez, a former teacher and author of the education blog Cult of Pedagogy.

What happens when a teacher gives a child an unfamiliar name?

While frustration or confusion may seem like a natural response when a teacher faces an unfamiliar name, it can leave a “lasting impact on the way that child sees themselves and their culture,” the study’s authors argue.

Why does my child say the teacher never calls on him?

If your child says the teacher “never” calls on him, when you talk to her she might tell you that your son often knows the answers, but she’s trying to give the shier kids a chance. Or the teacher may not have done anything at all. Maybe the teacher is a grump, and your child is taking it personally.

What should you not do at a parent teacher conference?

Avoid teacher-talk. K-12 education is loaded with jargon and acronyms, but a parent-teacher conference is not the place to use them. Be sure to explain any terms, curriculum titles, or even words on progress reports that aren’t commonly used outside the school setting.