The most important word in the world to a young child is his/her name. In my classroom, the children love to learn to spell their names, learn poems that have their names in them and play name games.
For example, each day the leader’s name is placed the this poem:

The Spell Your Name Game
Let’s play spell your name
Just for fun,
Let’s spell ________
He/she’s the one.
Whatever the name
We’ll spell the same,
Cause that’s how you play
The Spell Your Name Game.
The children have a pocket chart to place their names in, the title:
Who’s at School today?
They also have to make their lunch choices using a pocket chart as well.

You can use children’s names to teach the following skills:
Upper/lower case letter recognition
Directionality
Beginning sounds
Smaller words within student’s names
Ending sounds
Alphabetical order

Ways to practice writing their names:
playdough, either use cookie cutters or free form letters
Wikki sticks
Finger paints
Chalk
Magic markers
Q tip /watercolor
Sponge letters
Alphabet stamps
Trace name on an index card or sentence strip, glue with colored glue and sprinkle unsweetened koolaid on the glue. When the glue dries the children can trace their name; a great sensory experience.
Macaroni names
Bean names
Pipe cleaners

Name Songs
I Am
I am ________
I am ________
That’s my name,
That’s my name,
I am glad to be here,
I am glad to be here,
At school today,
At school today.

Who’s Here Today?
_______came to school today.
We’re so glad we’ll shout
Hooray!