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Kathleen - Anne, it's time, you can start now :-)
Mrs. Alphabet - Kathleen, thank you for inviting me here tonight to share some of the games and activities I have been exploring in my classroom>
Mrs. Alphabet - What name activities are you presenty using in your classrooms?
Mary K&1 - Mrs. Alpha., do you do a different name activity each day, if so, can you give us an example of a typical week?
Deb PS/IA - The preschoolers have their names printed on brightly colored paper that is then laminated. The children can use them to copy their name, trace it their finger, trace it with a crayon (wipe off with a tissue) or place paper over it and trace the name.
Mrs. Alphabet - I do the Student of the week which I have renamed Kinder-Prince and Princess 4 out of 5 days a week.
rok - write their name on two index cards. Cut one apart - keep one whole. Have them put together the cut up one like a puzzle. Store ea. name in ziploc bag
Mrs. Alphabet - I do other name games at center time like name tag bingo name wall etc.
Deb PS/IA - I'll do that tomorrow rok!
Mrs. Alphabet - Rok I like name puzzles they are a lot of fun!
Mrs. Alphabet - Have any of you been to Quia.com?
Mrs. Alphabet - I made name games for my boys and girls.
meeha/ece/tx - My first year teaching I had each child's name identified with a sticker (each child had a different sticker). I took roll by showing the cards --- they read the cards WITHOUT stickers within 4 weeks (pre-k) I knew they didn't need the stickers, because they read them backwards -- the bleed-through of the markers was how they read the names! (also read names without stickers at other times in day!
rok - Quia.com? whats that?
Max - Max K-Have the names spelled orally with a clap rhythm
Deb PS/IA - I also have the students names printed on paper from a computer program that shows the arrows to make each letter plus dots to practice. This is on the writing table for child use or to take home!
Addie k/mo - what is quia.com?
Mary K&1 - Mrs. Alpha., can you give some details? - Prince and Princess
Mrs. Alphabet - Quia.com is a terrifc site that you can creat e your own games: matching, flash cards, concentration, etc.
CHRIS/MD - When I have the children spell their names, I have them stand if the letter is tall and sit if it is short.
AR - Can somebody please give me pointers about becoming a preparatory provisional teacher?
Addie k/mo - thank-you mrs. alpha...will check it out
Addie k/mo - chris, what do they do for "tail letters"?
CHRIS/MD - Use their arms and make a swishy tail. That was the only thing I could think of.
Max - Have the students use play dough that is home made as peanut butter, chocolate, and kool aid. It is not eatable but they love it.
Addie k/mo - thanks, chris...fun idea!
Mrs. Alphabet - First I choose a child and give them a crown and a wand, second we interview asking 3 major questions, how do you spell your name, why did your parents choose your name, and third what do you like to do whern you're not in school. Then the children describe the prince or princess, and then we cheer their name and create a book for them.
Mrs. Alphabet - A parent told me that her daughter spent the whole evening looking at her book and making comments about the pictures.
aggie/1/ca - I found a toy megaphone for my kiddos to use when we cheer their names. It runs on a battery-- you can change the voice so it sounds like a robot or a high squeeky voice or just normal. The kids loooooove to use it!
Mrs. Alphabet - If I have time I extend the questions that is fun like why are you wearing that outfit or do you have a goldfish?
CHRIS/MD - My children like having their names posted around the room for jobs, classlist, behavior, etc.
mo - Mrs. Alphabet, my daughter just showed me how ro do this. I teach kindergarten with 18 students in each class. We have been doing a lot of name games. They liked the name puzzles. I then sent them home for "homework" for the parents to do with the children. They thought this was great!
Mrs. Alphabet - Chris I have Alphabet jobs email me I'll send you a copy.
texas2 - can anyone give me some ideas as to how to utilize centers with 3 reading groups- 2nd grade-very low performers
Mrs. Alphabet - http://www.quia.com
Mrs. Alphabet - Hi Texas you might want to check the chatboard and lessons that are posted.
Mrs. Alphabet - You can also make name puzzles for your overheads.
Addie k/mo - we have different leader each day and i typed all their names on transparencies, cut the letters in each name apart and put them in envelopes. we draw an envelope and unscramble the name on the overhead to discover the leader each day
Mindi - How can you get parents to help at home?
Mrs. Alphabet - I also use educational fontware and they have several fonts that are useful for printing names and then laminating them for classroom use.
Mrs. Alphabet - Addie, I like that idea, too.
CHRIS/MD - neat idea Addie.
Mrs. Alphabet - Mindi, try sending a note home requesting volunteers.
Mrs. Alphabet - Why do you think teaching using names is effective?
mo - Mindi, I send home a lot of "take home backpack" with activities for the parents to do with the children. There is a journal in each one for the parents to write how it worked. I send these home on weekends
Mindi - Imeant, geting them to work with their children and not expect I can do it all without their support
CHRIS/MD - I do a lot with sorting the names, number of letters, first letter, first sound,
rok - mindi, where do you get your backpack ideas? I teach 3's and 4's
Mrs. Alphabet - Chris, that's great I made an alphabet spin!
Mrs. Alphabet - Please share some of your name activities with the group.
CHRIS/MD - Names are important to everyone. Most of the children by the time they reach me can identify their name. That might be the only word they can read. I have noticed that even the children who are struggling with reading like writing the names of their friends. They can read those also.
Mrs. Alphabet - Chris, I like how you answered that question I agree.
CHRIS/MD - How do you do the alphabet spin?
mo - rok, A lot of the backpack ideas came from a book by Creative Teaching Press (I think) it is at school. I have put magnetic letters and numbers in little "feely" bags and the children and parent have to try to guess the letters. Things like that.
rok - mo, thanks! I'll try to find that book. I really want to start making the parents role just as important as mine - backpack games seem like a lot of fun, but I feel totally uncreative!
Mrs. Alphabet - I made a rainbow version of the alphabet enlarged it in circular form added a spinner and we use it for several name and phonics related games.
Mrs. Alphabet - I love edible names using pretzel sticks, mini marshmallows, and licorice strings. What do you think?
Mrs. Alphabet - Chris please post your question.
meeha/ece/tx - too cute, Mrs.A!
rok - edible names - sounds fun!
CHRIS/MD - rok, does everything come back. I teach in the inner city and supply most of my own materials.
mo - Mrs. Alphabet, how about using Alpha bits cereal
Jenn - In addition to edible materials, I like to use spaghetti and elbow macaroni noodles to build the letters of the kids' names (curved and straight parts).
Mrs. Alphabet - Using the 5 senses helps children to learn.
Mrs. Alphabet - Great ideas for creating names.
Djinn - I use my headliner from print shop as a template and they fill with glue and add jello. Smells sooo good.
Mrs. Alphabet - How are you trying to maotivate the children to write other children's names?
meeha/ece/tx - Writing names in jello -- glue letter shapes and sprinkle on jello. then (when dry) the name is 'scratch and sniff' -- can be seen, smelled, felt!
Mrs. Alphabet - Love that idea Djinn!
Djinn - We have a center titled "My friend" they get to list friends names.
Mrs. Alphabet - Mo, I like the alphabits, alpha pretzels, and alphabet cookies for creating names.
Addie k/mo - i find that with the names posted on our word wall the children choose to write others' names during our writing workshop time. they also like to use the names as examples of words that contain the day's letter during our alphabet lesson
meeha/ece/tx - I used to leave name cards in a writing center with white (copy) paper. the kids would put the card under the paper and trace the letters. took me a long time to figure out how they made those letters that well!
Mrs. Alphabet - Djinn, that's creative!
CHRIS/MD - The children list friends in their journals, write about what they and their friends like to do, find friends whose names start like yours or are the same length. Also sometimes just give them a chance to write what they want. It is surprising how many times names are written.
Djinn - We use writing materials, magnet links, magnetic alphabets to make names
Mrs. Alphabet - Do you model name writing in your journal writing to give children the idea?
Addie k/mo - i havent modeled it, i think that they are just available and of interest to the children so they choose to write the names
CHRIS/MD - Yes. The first journal entries are done by a puppet who doesn't know how to write. I let the puppet make a list of his friends.
Mrs. Alphabet - I have added special teacheers, the principal and other visual and popular membes of the school to our name wall1 What do you think?
Djinn - our Star of the Week book - modeling the name and drawing a picture.
meeha/ece/tx - That is such a good idea! helps make the school 'theirs'!
disney cathyk/pa - Hi, Anne, have any ideas for my boys ....they are not interested in writing at all!!!
Mrs. Alphabet - Cathy, please share your name story from the beginning of school?
Addie k/mo - we did one name per day as suggested in month by month for k, so they were encouraged to write the name then, but all kids that i have had have liked to write each other's names
Djinn - I am making a name sort center. Names with pictures. Sorted by numbers of letters, first letter, boy or girl.
Addie k/mo - i like that idea, mrs. a....i put my name on our word wall at the children's request, but hadnt thought about other names of school people
CHRIS/MD - I need help. In order to cut class size I lost half my room. I have very little available wall space. What is there is taken up with Open Court's sound symbol cards. Where can I put more words and names?
Pifenbrock - I did the names like month by month too... they liked doing this
Mrs. Alphabet - Meech, ou rprincipal loves for the kids to come up and share their journals especially surprised was he when his name was in a k Journal
Addie k/mo - do you have venetian blinds???? you can use clothespins or paperclips to hang things
Mrs. Alphabet - Chris, what about some folder games?
disney cathyk/pa - I know Addie has heard my name story. The first name I pulled from the basket was a boy named Alexander except his mom always called him Alec. He cried and said his name was not that long and didn't have an x in his name!
Djinn - Chris- have you thought of a portable word wall? Pocket chart or posters.
Pifenbrock - I am having a hard time getting the kiddos to use the word wall... I think it's too high, btu there is no where else to put it
disney cathyk/pa - We went with Alec then.
CHRIS/MD - I don't have musch storage space.
meeha/ece/tx - Can you hang things from the ceiling? Use paper clips - poster board - string to hang words, names, etc. down low. use backs of cabinets they can see, the door, desk sides,
Mrs. Alphabet - Pifenbrock I have very high walls and I use a flashlight the kids love to shine the light on their names and the others.
CHRIS/MD - That is a thought meeha.
Addie k/mo - that is cute, cathy...at least you could tell that he had some knowledge about his name!
Pifenbrock - I do not have blinds or cabinets... the idea of a flash light is great... wonder if walmart has colored ones ????
Grace/IL - Chris, do you have a place to put a folding cutting board -- the kind used for sewing? They fold up well to store.
Addie k/mo - how about a fishing net??? some people have even tied together those plastic soda pop rings to make nets
meeha/ece/tx - neat idea for pocket chart hanger i saw this summer: one of those portable clothing hangers on wheels (you can buy it at target or kmart on sale for $10 -15) stored a lot of charts on hangers, then the kids could just pull the card that had the words they need from it!
Mrs. Alphabet - Do you use a directory for your class to take home so they can communicate with the children in their class?
CHRIS/MD - Not really. Just imagine your room cut in half. Of course, I only have 18 children compared to 26. But space is cramped.
Kathleen - We make a directory for families so that they can contact other families
Pifenbrock - we make our own telephone books...
Addie k/mo - i have done that before, but do you ask parent permission first???
disney cathyk/pa - yes, but we have a girl in the room named Alexandria! She goes by Alex!!! So I really have to pronounce my words correctly!!
Mrs. Alphabet - I think that directories are another source of name recognition.
Addie k/mo - we also make classbooks and often use the kids names in them
CHRIS/MD - What activities can be used to help with phonics, since that is now the buzz word?
Pifenbrock - we post the names to the word wall when we are studying the letter... that way they can see another connection
Addie k/mo - the clapping and snapping activities in M by M for K help with phonemic awareness
Djinn - Anyone else using Month by Month? Great name ideas
Mrs. Alphabet - When you are doing name activities ask the children how they know how to read the name, ask them to kook at thename and tell what they notice about the letters, try to find comparisons band differences in the names, look for blends, vowels, clusters to point out, etc,
Grace/IL - To Chris re phonics: Which names begin with the same letter? How many names begin with Ch? What is that sound in their names? Do any names contain the same last letters (rhymes)? How many names have a single vowel? What sound does it make?
disney cathyk/pa - dJINN, I am using month by month and I am seeing such wonderful results!
Addie k/mo - i was surprised how easily the kids are catching on to the syllables...i have them clap the beats and then hold up the number of fingers to show the syllables. it is an every pupil response, so i can see if individuals are understanding
Pifenbrock - even my lowest ones are seeing the letters of their names in other places... today one saw his in our lunch menu and ran up to me to tell me that the same letters were in his name
Mrs. Alphabet - I love to rhyme with the names and make silly combinations out of their names.
Addie k/mo - one of my kids "noticed" that the word "sticky" on one of our poem charts had no e but sounded like an e. we found all the names in class that ended w/y but sounded like e
Grace/IL - To Addie: Besides clapping, have the children hold one hand under their chins to see how many times the lower jaw moves during the pronunciation of a word. I like that best for counting syllables.
Pifenbrock - I am teaching them the name game they LOVE IT!!!
Addie k/mo - thats a good idea, grace
Djinn - any more rhyming activities with names - I need to try this!
Mrs. Alphabet - Addie, I like how you made that exoerience tie into your students names.
CHRIS/MD - Try changing the first letter of their name or adding a letter. David becomes mavid, aaron becomes maaron.
Addie k/mo - i figured that they would remember the "long e - y" if they had something important (like their name) to attach it to
disney cathyk/pa - My boys noticed that Thursday started differently than TUESDAY but they both had T had the begginning and wanted to know why Thursday was different! I was impressed !!
Pifenbrock - funny the kids in my room noticed it when I spelled my "real name" for them... Kathy that I had a y that sounded like e
CHRIS/MD - I saw this somewhere. Each child takes a sentence strip that has A is for Aaron and I like apples.
Addie k/mo - chris that reminded me, we used to do that last year to practice beginning sounds, i would have them say their names if it began with an m or a p....they would howl with laughter!
Mrs. Alphabet - I have a rhyming wall and I use a word a week and try to incorporate acting out the rhyming words in a sentence form for example the bear(act like a bear) sat in a (make a siting motion)
Addie k/mo - there is the book, A my name is Alice and it follows that pattern, chris
Mrs. Alphabet - I think the Childwood magnet activities can be helpful with rhyming and other prereading activities.
Mrs. Alphabet - Visit Mrs. Alphabet at http://www.mrsalphabet.com
meeha/ece/tx - kind of limited 'sound-alikes', but a tachistoscope might be a fun tool to help the kids learn rhyming words/initial sounds
Djinn - Addie - sounds like a great class book.
Addie k/mo - what is a tachistoscope?
Mrs. Alphabet - Rhyming is an important skill that develops good discrimination auditorily and enhances other prereading skills.
disney cathyk/pa - Oh, something the boys like to do is I put their name Bis for Broc who likes? Broc thinks of something with the same begginning sound as his name. I do one a day and they can't wait to see what name I will use.
CHRIS/MD - Isn't it amazing how much phonics gets taught in "whole language"
Addie k/mo - rhyming helps the children see patterns in words that they can later use to decode unfamiliar words
Mrs. Alphabet - What about the children's pets names that would be cute maybe in the spring.
meeha/ece/tx - it is a paper or board or wheel with a common word ending, like _ear, with an opening in front through which a strip of paper with various letters can be pulled, changing the word with each pull -- or with each turn of a wheel.
Mrs. Alphabet - You could do an alphabetical pet graph.
Addie k/mo - ohhhhhhhh!!!! i have a whole book of those to run off! i didnt know the technical name!
Mrs. Alphabet - During my family unit I am going to bring some more names into play.
Grace/IL - Is kindergarten too early to help children see all of their own names -- Susan, Suzy, Sue, Miss Smith?
CHRIS/MD - Scholastic has a book that helps you make flip books, pull throughs and interactive stories. Fun Phonics Manipulatives by Michelle Hancock ISBN 0-590-31469-6
Mrs. Alphabet - No, Grace I think that k is an opportune time for visual percetion and discrimination experiences
Kathleen - Grace, it would depend upon the individual
Addie k/mo - i dont think so, grace...when we do our daily news, we always write about the leader and to introduce last names we write miss or mr and their last names...they love it! makes them feel important
Djinn - Chris - I have that book - we are now sorting letters by curves and lines.
Kathleen - Oh, I see, Grace, use the child with "Miss" or "Mr."..that would be motivating
Mrs. Alphabet - I am so impressed with all your knowledge and experience thank you for sharing.
Kathleen - Goodnight, and thank you, Anne, for hosting tonight! :-) bye all!
Mrs. Alphabet - I think we can say that names are certainly being used in many of our classrooms to encourage children to learn alphabet recognition, phonics, math, auditory discrimination, rhythm, and other exciting learning experiences
