Getting a student’s name right is not just a question of pronunciation. Incorrectly entering student names in school databases can mean that the same student is listed in different databases in various ways, often with incomplete records. Consequently, students who are eligible for services (for example, English learner support) can be unidentified or overlooked.
This set of naming conventions guides from IES and REL Northwest can serve as a reference for accurately and consistently entering students’ names in school, district, and state databases as well as address and greet parents and other family members in a culturally responsive and respectful way. The guides are available for students with home languages of Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Articles and Websites
- Mispronouncing Students' Names: A Slight That Can Cut Deep (Education Week)
- My Name, My Identity Campaign
Tips from a Teacher
Teacher Chris Homiak recently shared this activity with us :
Tried something new today: had students write their names phonetically, along with the way some teachers (in this first week) have been mispronouncing them. Recorded short videos on iPads, and practiced conversations of how to share with teachers.
I learned that I needed to fix my pronunciation on a few as well. So important to make space for getting this right. By middle school, many have given up and adopted different or shortened names. Many needed to be convinced of the right to expect correct name pronunciation.