The semester just started and you have 150 names to remember…and you must do it fast! Students feel marginalized when you can’t remember their names:

• I’m insignificant
• Mr. S doesn’t notice me
• I’m not important
• Mr. S doesn’t like me
• I’m invisible
• Mr. S knows other student’s names. He must like them better

A number of years ago, for some odd reason, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie came up in class. I referred to them reflexively as Brangelina. I was struck by how every kid knew exactly whom I was referring to. Hmmmm! Perhaps, I thought, I could do the same thing with a student’s first and last names. This was the birth of the Celebrity Couple Nickname Game. It has:

• Been a fun bonding tool
• Allowed me to remember student names
• Created powerful allegiance to my class

Ten days into class, you don’t want to be saying, “Hey…you in the brown shirt, what’s the answer to #10?”

Listen to these incredible student voices promote the power of this technique!

Episode Template

The Problem:

It’s hard to remember student names.

The Solution:

Play the Celebrity Couple Nickname Game.

What You Can Do Tomorrow?

• Take your seating chart and create celebrity nicknames out of the first and last names.
• Present examples.
• Challenge kids to morph your name. 
• Deputize your students to create their own celebrity nicknames.
• Present students with your creation. 

You can’t engage kids if you don’t know their names. Creating celebrity nicknames will transform this tedious chore into a fun game.