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Play to Learn

A delightful preschool experience

Spelling our Names

Play to Learn Preschool
Recently we posted some of the ways that we help our preschool students practice writing their names.  Writing is not the only thing we do with names, though!  Another important activity is learning to spell our names.  We sing lots of songs and rhymes with our names, and these are 10 of our favorite ways to practice them during centers:
Name Puzzles
Play to Learn Preschool

Write the child’s name on a piece of cardstock.  Cut the letters apart.  The student puts the puzzle together.

Sentence Strip Matching

Play to Learn Preschool
Program sentence strips with each child’s name.  Then write the corresponding letters (or use letter stickers) on seasonal shapes.  The students match the shapes to the correct letter on the sentence strip.
In September we used apples and in October we used leaves.
Play to Learn Preschool
Play to Learn Preschool
Star and basic shapes work well any time of year.
Play to Learn Preschool
Play to Learn Preschool

In My Name vs. Not in My Name

Play to Learn Preschool
Print a sorting mat and provide a bowl of letter manipulatives.  Provide the students with a name card.  To complete the center, the student chooses a letter from the bowl and then uses the name card to decide if it is a letter “In My Name” or “Not in My Name.”
Letter Beads
Play to Learn Preschool
We have a set of Learning Resources beads that the students use to make name necklaces.  Another option is to add letter stickers to regular wooden beads.
Play to Learn Preschool

Pattern Block Letters

Play to Learn Preschool

 

Play to Learn Preschool

We love these amazing free printables from Confessions of a Homeschooler.  To begin, we printed the first letter of each child’s name.  They use pattern blocks to make the letter.

Magnet Center

Play to Learn Preschool

 

Play to Learn Preschool
We use our magnetic white board to practice lots of skills, including spelling our names.  To make this center, write each child’s name on a card and add a magnet to the back.  Students choose a name card, then use magnetic letters to spell it on the board.
Clothespin Dinosaurs
Play to Learn Preschool
Print each child’s name on a dinosaur shape.  Add a photo for younger students, and mat onto cardstock or foam for durability.  Students use their fine motor skills to match clothespins to each letter on the dinosaur.
Clothespin Folders
Play to Learn Preschool
Another option for using clothes pins is to write the child’s name on a file folder.  The first name goes on the front and the last name goes inside.  Students pinch clothespins to match the letters of their names.
Foam Letters
Play to Learn Preschool
Provide each child with foam letters to spell their names.  Students glue the letters of their names onto picture frames, book marks, door hangers or other crafty item.
Letter Stamps
Play to Learn Preschool
Letter stamps are a guaranteed crowd pleaser!  Children can use their handy name card as a reference while they stamp their names on paper.
Name activities are always a hit because for most young children, their name is their favorite and most important word.  When the entire class is working on name activities, they begin to learn the letters of all friends in the class.  It is a great springboard for alphabet knowledge!
Here’s some more information about my decision to use capital letters with some of our students:
Click HERE for more ideas to help children learn to spell their names:
Name Activities for Preschoolers

 Try these EDITABLE NAME PRACTICE PAGES for your students who are learning how to write their names. You just type in your class list and print customized, differentiated name worksheets for each child. So quick and simple!0001

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Have fun playing and learning with your children today!
   

 

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Comments

  6. Jenn says

    You have some wonderful ideas for teaching kids to spell their names. I really like the addition of the clothespins, fine motor practice to strengthen those fingers! I notice you have them matching their names from capital to Lowercase. Curious to know when you do that in the year and if you encorage them to write lowercase.

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