Curriculum area:
Reading/Language Arts

Grade level:
K-2

Objectives:
1. To identify classmates by name.
2. To make letter ? sound associations.
3. To improve alphabet recognition.

Materials needed:
Oaktag strips with studentsÆ names clearly printed; photographs of individual students (Polaroid, etc.). Mount photos on oaktag.

Time estimate to complete:
5-10 minutes

Procedure:
1. Model for students how to match student names and photos, saying name and emphasizing first letter sound (e.g. John, J, J).
2. Taking two or three name tags, attempt a match thinking aloud your process (e.g. J,J, that? J. Does this name begin with J?).
3. Choose easily distinguished letter sounds to begin and limit number to three or four matches.
After a few days, increase the number of matches and model two names beginning with the same letter and sound ? e.g. J, J, Joe ? could it be this one? Jess or this one Joe?
Talk about medial and final sounds. Make this self-checking by printing the name on the back of the picture.
Model how to check, comparing every letter in left to right sequence.