I begin printing names on frog street short strips (I use these because of the grapics which help kids start spelling their names right side up). I make one whole card to use as a guide, and make another card with letters cut apart for arranging to make their names again. These go in a 1 gallon zipper seal bag…to this I add:
1 dry erase marker
1 dry erase marker board
A sheet protector with a name practice page inside (for dry erase tracing) Be sure to use the
shiny sheet protectors–so easy to erase ink off of
A word find puzzle with their names in a sheet protector–they are to find and circle their name
(To make the puzzle, I add all letters of all first names in the class to get a total for the number of rows and columns I will need to type every child’s name 3x. Then I make the table and start with my list typing in each name until I get to the last child. I copy/paste this list two more times in the table. Students should be able to find their name and circle it 3x on the list that is in the sheet protector.)

After they do the bag activities they get a name practice page with arrow/dot font letters of first and last name to practice in pencil, then this goes home for additional practice with crayon or twistables. It can be brought back to school for a sticker or 2 points for a 2 minute party after they have earned 10 points–all of this is on a small chart on my desk).

 

This is such an effective way to help students learn their names, and when they know their own names, you can have them to trade with a friend and learn theirs! I do not have them to take home a practice page since those are printouts that have to be reserved for each student for their own handwriting practice.  

Name Bags…think about them!

Maggie