NAME--FIRST, MIDDLE, LAST
 A couple of things to do all year round.  Always let the children "write"
their own
 name on projects.  Even my babies do it.  I just take a pencil, place it in
their fingers
 and say the letters out loud as I write, covering their fingers with my own.
 By the time they are two, most will be saying the letters along with you.
 
 SONGS AND FINGERPLAYS
 BINGO
 Sing the song "Bingo" using the letters of a child's name.
 
 There was a boy who had a name 
 And Ethan was his name-o
 E*t*h*a*n, E*t*h*a*n, E*t*h*a*n
 And Ethan was his name-o
 
 As the child gets better at remembering the letters in his name, try the
clapping part.
 
 A BEAN BAG GAME OF NAMES
 Bean Bag, Bean Bag goes to you.
 This is what you need to do....
 Say your name so we can hear.
 Everybody give a cheer!
 Hooray!!
 
 Now your turn is at an end. 
 Pass the bean bag to a friend.
 
 As the children get better at saying their names, change the word "say" to
"shout" or
 "whisper" or even "spell".  Even my 2's love this one.
 
 WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
 Sung to; "Hush, Little Baby"
 
 What is your name?  I'd like to know.
 
 What is your name?  I'd like to know.
 
 Please won't you tell me before I go?
 
 What is your name?  I'd like to know.
 
 ACTIVITIES
 
 Even if you don't have "cubbies", make cubby tags and put them on the wall
or coat
 rack.  I also make "name cards".  I take a 3x5 index card, print their name
clearly,
 and have it laminated.  Whenever they want to "write" their names, give them
the
 cards.  They will try to copy it.  Have crayons, pencils, markers, pens,
etc....available at all times for them to practice.
 
 Send home a letter asking parent's reason for giving each child his or her
name. 
 Discuss how each name is special.
 
 Start an "all-about-me" book with the first page being the child's first
attempts at
 printing his or her own name.  The last page can be the child's later
attempt at the
 same.
 
 Make name puzzles to help children who have difficulty sequencing the
letters of
 their name.  Cut out several 1-inch squares of colored construction paper.
 Write
 each letter of the child's name on a separate square and then glue the
letters in
 sequence on a quarter sheet of construction paper.  Write each child's name
again on separate squares and store these squares loosely in a library pocket
glued to the back of the name puzzle.  Make a name puzzle for each child.
 Instruct the children to match and line up each loose letter aloud as they
match the letters in order from left to right.  Name puzzles may be made for
last names once the first names are
 memorized.  (It is important for children to visualize the order of the
letters in their
 names when they are learning to print their names.)  Remove the name puzzle
models when the children are ready and give them only the individual letter
pieces to
 sequence in order.
 
 Start by teaching the children to write each letter of their names, learning
one letter
 at a time,  practicing on newsprint.  After the ltters have been mastered,
move to
 newsprint folded in half and then into fourths.  When the children feel
comfortable
 writing their names on the newsprint divided into fourths, move to large
lined paper. 
 After the children have had experiences visualizing the left-to-right letter
sequence,
 help them work on correct letter formation and left-to-right sequencing (you
might
 use dots or have the children trace over your letters at first).  Monitor
the children
 closely to make sure they are forming the letters correctly.
 
 Make name mobiles.  Draw a circle, square, triangle, and rectangle on heavy
paper
 for each child.  Invite the children to cut out the shapes and then punch a
hole at the
 top and bottom.  Have the children write "My" on both sides of the circle
with a
 black crayon or marker.  Have the children write, "name" on the rectangle,
"is" on
 the triangle, and the child's own name on the square. (you might have to do
the
 writing for less experieinced children).  Show the children how to
straighten out four
 paper clips to make an S shape.  Then, help the children use the paper clips
to hook
 the shapes together.  Use yarn to hang each mobile.
 
 Allow the children to spell out their own names using as many different
medias as you have access to.  Rubber stamps, chalk on chalkboards, writing
in salt or sand on cookie sheets,  finger paint, etc.