Name Practice

Each year one of my FIRST goals is to help students learn to recognize their names in writing, and then to learn to WRITE their names independently.  I want EACH student in my classroom to be able to write his or her name correctly before they leave for kindergarten.  I’ve discovered that including hands-on name practice activities is key to helping my little learners master their names.

Here are 6 fun, hands-on ways for students to learn their names.  At the end of this post, you can download a FREE, EDITABLE version of these activities to use in your own classroom or home-school.  I have also included a shopping list so you can gather the hands-on materials you’ll need for these activities if you don’t already have them. (Please note that these mats are guides.  They are not to scale with all of the materials.  Otherwise, they would be huge!)

Pattern Block Name Practice

Pattern Blocks are usually a math manipulative, but did you know you can use them in literacy activities as well?  This name practice activity is fun and helps students develop spatial sense while mastering their name.  Please note that the pattern blocks on the name mat are not to scale.  They are simply a guide to show students how to lay out the pattern blocks to make their name.  (The mats would be humongous if this particular set was to scale!)

This activity also provides great practice for identifying colors and shapes.  You can also incorporate counting practice.  After a child creates a letter (or her entire name) ask her, “How many hexagons did you use?”  Or, “Did you use more yellow or blue shapes?”

Q-Tip Painting Name Mats

This is such a fun fine motor activity!  It’s also perfect for helping students learn to spell their names.  Simply provide q-tips and plate of washable paint, and watch your students dab and paint their names.  Remind them to start with the first letter and move from left to right as they dab.

Incorporate math skills by encouraging children to make a pattern as they dab their name.  Or, have them count and record how many dabs it took for each letter of their name.

Play-doh Name Fun

Playdoh is every child’s FAVORITE activity!  And it’s great for building hand strength.  With this laminated mat, students can roll and form the letters of their name.  P.S.  They’ll think they’re playing–not learning! #winwin

I actually prefer homemade playdoh to storebought playdoh.  I find it’s much more pliable and easier for little hands to work with.  Here’s my favorite recipe for making your own homemade dough!

 

Snap Cube Name Practice

Snap Cubes are also called linking cubes or Unifix cubes.  They are another math manipulative that are perfect for forming letters.  Give students a bucket of snap cubes and a name mat and they’ll have a truly hands-on way to practice “writing” their name!

As with the pattern block name mats, these mats aren’t to scale.  So students won’t actually place the snap cubes on top of the mats.  Instead, they’ll use the mats as a guide for forming each letter.  I encourage them to actually snap that number of cubes together instead of just laying them on the table.  This requires more fine motor skill!

 

Building Brick Name Mats

I love using building bricks, or Legos, for letter and number formation.  With these building brick name mats, students get one more FUN way to learn their names.  I definitely buy generic building bricks for this name practice activity. (Again, these cards are not to scale depending on which bricks you use.)

This activity is great for fine motor practice, and the smaller bricks are ideal for helping little hands develop strength and dexterity!

Dry Erase Marker Name Mats

Laminate the tracing name mat, and provide students with a dry erase marker and eraser.  They’ll get to practice writing their name over and over again.  And somehow, it’s just more fun to write with a marker!

I also like to laminate these mats and send them home with a dry erase marker.  Then students can do their “name homework” each night.  It’s fun for parents to be part of their child’s learning in a fun and hands on way!

Creating & Organizing your Name Practice Activities

The magic robot (really, it’s just an editable PDF!) will help you create fine motor name mats for your child.  Simply type your child’s name in each box, and watch as it’s magically transformed into a fun fine motor font!

To begin, DOWNLOAD the file from Dropbox.  Once you have downloaded the PDF file, type in your child or student’s name in the first blank box of the file you’ll download below.  You can then copy it and paste it into each of the other boxes in the document.  There are 6 name practice mats in all.  I suggest printing them on colorful card stock and then laminating them for durability.  Use a ring clip to hook all the name cards together.   Please Note:  Typing your child’s name in Dropbox or in the comment box on Dropbox will not work for the magic robot.  You must DOWNLOAD the file first.

Please keep in mind that you will need the latest FREE version of Adobe PDF reader software installed on your computer.

I like to use a divided tray to provide all the materials and manipulatives students will need for the activities.  Then, place all of the student name cards in a bucket near the tray, and students can visit the Name Practice Center anytime!  You’ll find that it will be one of the most visited centers in your classroom!

Shopping List

Chances are you  have many (if not all) of these manipulaties on hand already.  But in case you don’t, I’ve created convenient shopping links for you.  Please note that these are affiliate links.  While you won’t pay any extra by purchasing from these links, I will earn a *small* commission which supports this site and enables me to continue sharing fabulous freebies and content like this!  Click any of the links below to check them out on Amazon!

• Pattern Blocks
• Tempera Paint (this is my favorite brand!!)
• Q-tips (Sure you can use standard ones from Walmart, but I love these longer ones for little hands!)
• Play-doh (If you prefer homemade play-doh, check out THIS POST for my favorite recipe!)
• Snap Cubes
• Building Bricks
• Dry Erase Markers
• Personal Laminator
• Laminating Sheets
• Colorful Card Stock
• Ring Clips

Fill out the form below to receive your FREE Editable Name Practice Mats.

Need more hands-on alphabet activities?  Check these out!

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