Wednesday, July 11, 2012

NAME CARDS

Name cards are something you’ll definitely want to make for your classroom when school starts.

Why?       name recognition; reading skills; print connections; classroom management                                

What?         sentence strips cut in 8” sections; photos of children, stickers,
                   markers, box or basket

How?           Write each child’s name on a card and glue their picture on
the right as shown.  Store the name cards in a box or basket. 
Use the name cards in the activities below:

Hint!            As children become familiar with their names, let them
choose a symbol or sticker to replace their photo.  During the
next stage, write each child’s name using a different color for
the first letter in their name.  Finally, just use cards with the
children’s names.

When?         Use name cards for a variety of activities throughout the school year.

Transitions:   Pull names to line up, answer questions, go to centers, etc.

Sign In:        Place name cards by a large sheet of paper.  Each day
when children come to school they can find their card and
write their name on the chart.

Helpers:      Choose names for special jobs, to sit by the teacher, etc.

Writing Center:  Keep cards in the writing center so children can use their friends’ names to write stories, notes, etc.

Word Wall:   Attach Velcro to the back of cards and use for interactive activities on the word wall.

Mystery  Name:    Choose one child’s name each day and place it in an envelope.  Give clues about the consonants and vowels in the name.  For example, “This person’s name has one vowel and it is in the middle.”  Write an “a” on the envelope. “Whose name could it be?  This name has a /t/ sound at the end.”  Write a “t” on the envelope.  “Anybody guess whose name this might be?  There is a /p/ at the beginning of this name.”  Write a “P” on the envelope.  “Stand up if this is your name.”  Pull the name card from the envelope to verify.
Grouping:    Pull two names at a time for partner activities.  You could also choose name cards for small group activities.

Seating:      Place cards on the rug before circle time.  Children find their name and sit in that spot.  (The cards can be used in a similar manner for snack or table activities.)


Little Red Box - Cover a small box with red paper and put name cards in the box.  Pull one name at a time out of the red box and sing to this song to the tune of "Polly Wolly Doodle."
I wish I had a little red box
To put my child’s name  in.
I’d take him/her out and go kiss, kiss, kiss,  (smack in the air)
And put him back again.
…Continue singing each child’s name.