When you’ve survived the first week of face-to-face teaching during a pandemic, you move onto name practice during week two. I’d like to think that my class list is pretty stable now but the reality is, with students being able to move back and forth from virtual to face-to-face, my class list will probably be a moving target for quite a while. So with that in mind, I’m glad I have editable name activities that I can enter, print and go . . .

Week Two

This week was all about names . . reinforcing letters in their name for those that didn’t know and letter formation for those that do know their name and can write it. I was so happy that I spent the time last week learning to use ALL the tools, because it made using them this week for name activities so much easier and my students did great!

This Week’s Activities

Bingo Dotter Names

This is a super simple prep name activity. Just write your students’ names on a large piece of paper and students use daubers to outline the letters in their name. Plus, we use bingo daubers all year and this gives us a chance to practice using these.

Pokey Pin Names

We learned about pokey pins last week so transiting to pokey pins for name practice was a breeze. Students poke the letters in their name, and then remove the top sheet. Once that top sheet is removed, they can see holes that make the letters in their name when they hold it up to the light.

Play-doh Names

Having these name plates makes is so much easier for students to use playdoh to make their name. They are editable and that makes it super easy to create new ones as new students are added to my class.

Sticker Names

Everyone LOVES stickers. This activity is super for fine motor and engaging because . . . STICKERS. It’s easy, because this is another editable activity that can be easily printed off and you just add small stickers. Easy Peasy.

Dry Eraser Markers Name

I use a font very as close to Handwriting Without Tears as you can get. It indicates to my students where to start their letters and because its an outline of the letters, it is easier for them to follow the space that makes their letters.

I laminate these cards so they can use them over and over and over again.

Did I mention that these practice mats are FREE for you when you sign up below?

Q-Tip Names

Q-Tips!!!! YES!!!! My kinders love anything with paint and this one is an easy one. Print the name templates and add paint and q-tips. Plus this is more practice with a tool that we will use all year long.

Next Week’s Name Activities

One week is not NEARLY enough for practicing names, of course. It’s something that we will work on for several weeks and even months for some kiddos. Because of that, it’s important to find activities that will sustain and engage. For those kiddos that really need those letters reinforced, we go over the letter names (and usually put the letters to a little song like for the name McCoy -my middle son-I would put the song to the tune of BINGO and sing M-C-C-O-Y) every single day, pointing as the letters as we go along.

This Is How I Write My Name

I keep several copies of these around. It’s not a one and done type of activity and I also send a couple of copies home for students if they need practice.

The Handwriting Without Tears like font is my favorite for teaching proper letter formation and is so much easier for little ones.

Watercolor Names

And here it is . . . their absolute favorite activity. Watercolor paints are a HUGE engagement tool for kindergarteners. They love water colors and being able to work on their names while painting.

The set comes with 4 different options so again –not a one and done activity. You can check them out here.

Stay tuned for what’s happening next week with the introduction of letters . . .

It seems that things are going at a snails pace this year, but I really think this pace is absolutely necessary for my little friends as we transition from being away from a routine and academic expectations for so long and with all the added complications of COVID requirements. So we will continue to focus of the little things . . . fine motor and names and routines and expectations until they indicate to me that they need more.