WHAT'S IN A NAME

Everything was going along as usual, children writing their letters on sign-in sheets every morning, minding their own business, maybe adding some colors, decorations, or even a letter or two of their last name.

  

Then, suddenly Bryce started his name with an A instead of a B!  He was making a joke, playing with letters, seeing what would happen.  He was so tickled with his alterations, giddy with delight.  And he kept it up, rearranging the letters in his name every day, making patterns from his letters, even straying all the way into graphic design - symmetry, design, and patterns.

  

A few days later, we lost control of George too; first signing-in as DAD,  then, he crossed the line when he signed-in as his friend ELLIOTT!  Well, as you might imagine, ELLIOTT felt the need to reciprocate so he signed-in as GEORGE.  That's when we lost all control.  Everyone signing-in as someone else, writing letters that aren't even in their names, new letters, hard ones too.  It was chaos.

This is why we set up our rooms and systems with the intention to inspire rather than teach.  Each classroom has systems, materials, and provocations to support and encourage literacy in an age-appropriate and engaging way so that a natural interest can emerge as children seek to decode the symbol system of our written language.  

Zack adds numbers

Zack signs-in with pictures

Zack transformed his letters into symbols

Samuel uses stars because he just
learned to make them in that fun way.

Samuel signs-in backwards

Zoey signs-in as Pricilla

Three people sign-in as Elliott

Elliott and George sign-in as Bryce

Kai signs-in as George and Marlowe signs-in as her dog

Samuel as Mary Claire

no one signing in as themselves!

 I love the way the exploration of literacy develops each year from the children's ability to bring playfulness into their daily routines.  It is non-threatening; it is inspired.  Some years they string impossibly long chains of  Scrabble letters together and ask - "read this!" 

Sometimes they cover the front of the desk with sticky-notes filled with words, real and invented.  This year their playfulness pours across our sign-in sheets, everyday signing-in as other friends.  We can't wait to see what they think of next.