Learning how to read and write their names (and the names of their family and classmates) is a big-kid growing up skill for kindergarteners.
Here are some ideas how to begin:
Recognizing your name
Show a name card and sing/chant:
"Whose name is this?
Who can it be?
Whose name is this?
Please look and see."
When the child recognizes their name, they come get their card.
If he has trouble you can give a hint: "It begins with a M."
Tell the sound of the first letter. "It begins with /m/."
Usually someone in the class knows the name so you can allow for a helper to tell. Sometimes just look at the child, smile and nod. This gives them the 'release' that they are correct, it is their name.
When the student comes up to get their name card, help point out "This is your name." and slowly run fingers under name and stretch out sounds.
Practice recognizing name written with Capital + lowercase and in All Capitals.
Outside Sidewalk Chalk game
Write the names of students on the playground or sidewalk. Have the students run to find their name. Give each child their own piece of chalk and they can copy their name again.
Letter Name Hop
Use letter carpet squares or make letter mats from rubberized shelf liners. Place the letters of students' names on the floor. Classmates line up and hop on each letter saying the name of each letter for their friends' names. At the end say the whole name as they jump off. Do two names at a time so class needs to make two lines. When students finish each name, they go to the end of the next line. Setting up two names helps the activity move along. Change the names as often to keep the activity interesting.
Morning Routine Name Pick Up
Each morning throughout the year, as the students come in, they pick up their name cards and put them on the pocketchart to 'check-in' for attendance. Any names left on the floor when school begins, are held up for all to read. Those children are absent or forgot to pick up their names.
When the names are put on the pocketchart, we are practicing left to right and row by row order (which is developing our reading habit).
Sing/Chant letters in name
Pick a melody to sing the letters of our name. "h-a-i- l-e-y that spells Hailey"
Cheer for you
Have students select their classmates to hold the letters of their name.
Kathy's name has five letters so Kathy should pick 5 friends. Give Kathy large letter cards for her name. She will give each friend a letter card (in or out of order). Kathy needs to make sure they are in the correct order. (Hint: letter on front of the card is Large for classmates to see but also put a smaller size letter on the back so the 'friend' can see and know the letter card they are holding)
Class cheers/calls out....K-a-t-h-y. Hooray for Kathy!
The Writings on the Wall
Hang chart paper or craft paper on the wall in classroom or in the hall. Write the names of students on the paper. Students can find their name and copy their name again and again. Writing on a vertical surface is sometimes easier for young children verses bending at the neck. Write on chalkboard or large whiteboard. (I suggest to families to practice writing on the bathtub wall during bathtime. Lather up with soap and write in the slippery suds.)
Name Hats
Cut out class names printed in 200 font size. Students should glue name onto a sentence strip (beginning on the LEFT side). Students can decorate the rest of the sentence strip with their favorite shapes, pictures, or make a pattern. Measure the sentence strip around the child's head and staple for a name hat. The name hat can be worn for special teachers during the first few weeks and later use for substitute teachers. I keep the name hats in a large gift bag. Subs can read the name as they pull out the hats to give to the students. This helps the connection of the names to their faces. It makes the kids feel special too.
Rainbow Writing Names
Type each student's name in large grey shaded print so the students can trace over the letters. The students can select 3 colors.
Trace all letters with first color, saying the name of each letter while tracing.
Trace all letters with second color, saying the name of each letter while tracing.
Trace all letters with third color, saying the name of each letter while tracing.
(There are so many variations of pages available on TeachersPayTeachers that are more ways to trace students names.)
All Letters Count
Write names in 1-inch squared grid paper. Cut out the names as a strip.
Give students their name and have them count how many letters there are.
Ask for names with 2-letters, then 3-letters, etc.
Put the names on a chart showing all the names with the same number of letters.
Whose name has the least/fewest number of letters?
How many names have the same number of letters?
How many names have 3 letters, 4 letters?
Whose name(s) has the most letters?
Dry Erase Boards
Children love to use dry erase boards. They like using a marker on the smooth surface. If you make a mistake it is easy to erase and try again.
Plastic plates are a fun alternative to a flat board. Write on the bottom for an easier angle.
Shaving Cream Writing
Squirt shaving cream on tabletop and have students use their writing hand to spread it out and use pointer finger to practice writing their name. Children love the feel and it makes your room smell a bit fresher. They can practice making shapes, squiggles, and numbers too.
Who has your name?
Write the names of half of your class on pieces of paper. Pin a name on the backs of the other half of your class. Students find the person that has their name pinned on their backs. This could be their line buddy or partner for another activity.
Build Names with Letter Tiles - Letter Blocks
Write name on card and have students find the letter tiles to match.
Students copy letters saying name of each letter.
Keyboard Letters
Print out a copy of a keyboard and have the students find and color the keys to match their name.
Have the students practice writing/copying their name Capital first letter + lowercase AND in all Capitals.
* It is important to practice letters in two forms. Capital and lowercase, All Capital since keyboards have only the capital font. Sometimes this is very confusing for young children.
*Involving a group or class with calling out other students' name and letters has the extra benefit of learning letters out of order and 'reading'.
Writing students' names on helper charts encourages them to recognize their own name and begin reading the names of their classmates.
Stories and Songs
Students LOVE to hear their own names and their classmates names in stories and songs.
Throughout the school year, make an effort to find a story for each child's name in your class. If necessary, read a story that you don't have to show the words, and substitute some of the name variations that you might have in your class, just so they can hear their special name.
The more you practice (right)
The better we get!
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