I'm entering my fifth year at the school, and fourth as a prep coverage teacher. I teach well over 200 students. By now I'm used to the unusual names. But the spelling... everyone needs to be unique. Here's the fourth entry for What's in a Name?

First off, we have our religious names. Yes, they're probably meant as being more hippy than religious, but we'll stick with the religious theme. We have Harmony, and her wonderful sister Serenity. We have theological virtues too! Faith is important. But Faith seldom shows up. Faith needs to come to school. Love is a great little girl, but I still cringe at calling her Love. Sadly we do not have a Hope in our school. And what would the religious theme be without Trinity.

Then we just have a mish mash. Daz, Kael, and Laiden sound kind of cool. Nixon still makes me shake my head. Nixon?! We have country stars Paisley and Shelten, but no Garth or Hank. Ezmera, Hazen, Taiven, Aydrea, Breckin, Ruger, and Genya. I just sort of guess how to say their names. Others, you can have more fun with. Let's build a story...

The Deakan, a former Saylor, took a Jett in the pouring Summer Raine to Foster a Chanse at fighting Isis because he wanted to Cache in on more Merit.

Oh I could go on. But honestly, by year five I am starting to get numb to these names. What shocks me more is that I now teach a George and a Ralph. The two most unique names in the school, if you ask me. Well. Almost. I teach a True. yes, a True. Better than a False (although I'm sure that'll be next, those rebel parents). True is not Vietnamese. Just... True. 

I've Been Called Worse

Seeing as I teach nine different classes, close to 200 students, I have a difficult time in remembering names. However, if you'd think it's tough to remember student names, apparently it's way harder for the majority of these 200 students to remember my name.

Start with the grade 5s. They're pretty good, except for the class where they have another male teacher. I'll be addressed as Mr. Kubat usually about 10x per class.

Then the grade 4s. I replace two male teachers! This means, on any given day, I will be called Mr. Yee or Mr. LamMa more than I will be called Mr. Millette. Sometimes I end my mornings not even knowing who I am. Like, do I go home for lunch? Do I still have a home? I'm confused.

The grade three teachers I replace are female, so grade three is where I start to get called Mrs. Either Mrs. __________ (Classroom teacher), or simply Mrs. Millette. I always respond that she's probably at home putting a boy down for a nap, but they can call her if they need to.

Finally there's the grade twos. I am Mrs. Pilling to most of them. There is no differentiating. Teacher = Mrs. Pilling. But there is hope. Things are getting better. I think. I was called Mr. Pilling last class. On one hand I'm thrilled to be considered a Mr. On the other hand, I don't know how my wife feels about me now being Mr. Pilling.

All in all, it shows me that younger children rely on familiarity. They crave a steady and comfortable environment. The best example comes from a few years ago when I taught grade one. One boy, in a sweet innocent voice, asked me in front of the entire class: "Mom, can you help me?" I was touched. To think that I help him to the degree that a mother helps her own child! I responded with an equally sweet: "of course, dear."And I was never called mom again. It's all good. Really.

I've been called worse.

What's in a Name: Pt. III

A new school year. New hopes. New dreams. New names I'll never remember. And some I'll never forget. Yes, as a prep coverage teacher I have the responsibility of teaching over 200 different students. This is a nightmare for trying to remember names. What names do I have to contend with this year?

First off, it's not all bad! I teach three Daniels! Now they all come from different countries. But still! Then I get into the usual: Zenek, Kayson, Nash. Xander, Drayden, Arizona, Tilka and Athena. I must not get Elenna confused with her sister Elaine (wha...?). Nor the seemingly five dozen Riley/Rylees mixed up. I am intrigued by the spelling of Alexyss, and I wonder what Nastya means in Ukrainian (Anastasia?). Little miss Summer-Rae is a beam of sunshine, and I try not to think of the you know who when I call Isis.

But, without a doubt, there is a name that I'll always remember. You see, on the first day I saw a child walking down the hallway. Then a teacher next to me called out: "Hi Love!" I shot the teacher a glance. You don't call kids love! How inappropriate! The teacher saw my confusion and quickly clarified: "No! Her name is actually Love!" So now in class I have the responsibility of calling Love when she raises her hand. It was so awkward yesterday! Maybe I'll just ignore her... she won't mind. After all, Love is patient. Love is kind...

I'll stop now.

We're All Special, Whoever You Are

I'm a month and a half into the school year and I still don't know all of the names of the kids I teach. Not by a long shot. Now I know all of the grade 5s, most of the grade 2s (I taught half of them last year), and a fair bit of the grade 3s. I'm at about 65% of the grade 1s and, gulp, about 25% of the kindergartners. I've always been awful at remembering names, but when you see some of the students for just half an hour every second day, and usually out in a big gym where everybody is running around, and they all kinda look the same, there's sure to be problems.

 

But the real problem has been the actual names.

You know how kids are all told that they're special? And you know how we counter that if everybody is special, then special is only ordinary? Well this holds true with names. As it turns out, just about every kid has a "special" name. And by special I mean "odd," "unusual," or even "crazy." I teach Manmeet, Marston, and Jett. Merit, Zenek, and Nastya. Kady (short for Kadence), Caden, Kaiden, Odin, and Gage. There's good old Roshan and Kerrington, Korbin and Dacey, even Kana and Jaycie. Kazmyn and Elle (named after the letter "L"?). Baily, and Bailey. Taiven and Tayen. Or perhaps my favourites: Madison and Brooklyn. What about Terren, Crispin, and Robinson?  I could go on and on. I haven't even scratched the surface.

Some of them are actually very precisely named. For instance, Havoc lives up to his name very well, and so does Christian. Others, like Serenity, not so much.

All in all, I just can't remember their names. Too unique. What's funny is that I'm having a much easier time remembering Samuel and Daniel, Dominic and Adam, or Matthew and Jenna.

It turns out that ordinary is the new special.