I always wanted to write why the name each of us are given is important to consider. Each year we have the privilege as an educator to touch and impact families as we teach their children. I emphasize as a teacher we teach children that belong to many cultures and backgrounds…As a teacher we have so many opportunities to reflect on pronunciation of names, spelling of names and the chance to talk about each individual story behind the name that we are given. As we celebrate World Teacher Day this month reflect on the privilege we hold as teachers to embrace diversity, be inclusive and bring about change in the education system that we work for towards a better future for all.
This blog starts with you getting to know me a bit better as an Educator in Ontario. Nilmini is my middle name- it was given to me by my parents because “Nil” in Sinhala means the colour Blue. “Mini” in Sinhala translates into “Gem”…Nilmini means a Blue Gem a precious stone, and important name that I was given. I love it…I never really thought about how when I was born the white part of my eyes had grey and blue tones….Moreover, now as an educator I reflect on why my name holds a special place in my heart since it is also apart of my heritage the beautiful country I was born in Sri Lanka before I immigrated to Canada with my family as a child.
“Each year we have the privilege as an educator to touch and impact families as we teach their children.” @NRatwatte
Ask your students about their Name Stories
As an educator there is no better way to build a trusting relationship than to ask students about who they are so you can connect it to the curriculum that is being taught each year.
- Build in lessons through out the year to get to know your students names
- Their heritage
- Their traditions
- Call students by their names – real names
- Don’t change them since they are long
- Do give them pride and ownership in using their own name
Some Books that can help you start the conversation about Names
Name Jar
I love using this book to discuss the importance of keeping our language cultural name and customs. The book helps us talk about inclusion practises in a school setting and importance of feeling belonging.
Chrysanthemum
No better book for me as a teacher since my name is very long and I go by my middle name Nilmini that is a family tradition.
They call me Number One
A book I start the conversation with about the importance of making students feel welcome when learning about the First Nations Peoples of Canada and the Residential School System.
Growth Mindset to Teaching
I encourage you as an educator to embrace the differences and not shorten names but call students by their real names to give them respect for their identity. Names are apart of each individual identity since they are interconnected to who we are, our cultural heritage or our customs.
- Ask Questions
- Encourage sharing
- Embrace the Learning
In my culture we have a “letter sound” that is given to us when we are born according to our horoscope and that is the sound that we use to name each child according to be prosperous in our lives. These traditions carry with us over the generations because they are meaningful and they encourage customs that hold our heritage over the centuries close to our hearts.
Reflection Question: Think about why your name is important; write down your name story that you can share with your student during a lesson and courageous conversation.
Yours in Education,
Nilmini
2 thoughts on “Mentoring Moments: Importance of Our Names”