Name cards can also be used for managing other activities. For example, some teachers allow only 3 students to work in a center at one time. By having each child hang their name up at the center, it is clear who is there and whether or not there is space for another child to work. Names can also be written on smaller cards attached to clothes pins, or even written on the clothes pin itself, to make name clips. Name clips can also be used for voting and graphing.
Many children learn to recognize and discriminate between letters by using name cards.
In using their own name, they are starting with a known item. As they move to reading other children's names, they are building their knowledge base. It is a very important step when children can see the differences between Jane, James, and Jose, or between Brian and Brittaney. Reach up very high now. Reach up to the sky now.