When the children come in September, I like to introduce an All About Me Unit. This unit compliments nicely the ideas found in Month by Month Phonics for 1st grade, by Pat Cunningham. Further, it builds sight vocabulary and develops a sense of community in your classroom. On a chart, list names of children as they are introduced, following the activities in Month by Month Phonics.
Children can draw self-portraits next to their names.
Read aloud Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, a story about a little mouse with an unusual name. Give each child a blank index card. Tell them to print their first name and count how many letters are in their name and write the number on the back of the card. I cut around their names to show the configuration. On large chart graphing paper I write the heading - Our Name Graph.