Morning Sign-In
Building Math, Literacy, and Thinking Skills
Stage of Literacy Development:
Stage 0: Foundation for LiteracyStage 1: Beginning Literacy
Ages:
3-7
Grade Range:
PreK K 1stFood Groups:
Primary:
Knowledge Building, Concepts of Print
Activity Description
Preparation:
-
Gather student nametags
- If your students do not have nametags, write each student’s name on a piece of cardstock
-
On chart paper, write a sign-in poll question about student names and draw a large chart or graph to display the results
- For example, your poll question could be “Do you have the letter a in your name?” and you could create a “Yes/No” t-chart on chart paper
- Choose sign-in polls that address literacy skills such as concepts of print, phonemic awareness, and/or letter-sound correspondences
Implementation:
-
Post your chart paper with the sign-in question and the chart
- Have students attempt to read the sign-in question and support them as necessary
-
Have students answer the sign-in question by posting their nametag in the correct place on the graph or chart
- Make sure to explain and model this process before expecting students to do it independently
-
Invite students to sit down and review the results of the poll as a class
- For example, “What kind of chart did we use today?” “What is this chart telling us?” “How many names are in the yes column?”
-
Ask additional math questions related to your chart
- For example, “Is the probably of picking a student’s name with the letter a in it very likely or not very likely?”
Adaptations For
English Language Learners/ESL:
- Display each student photos beside their names - Keep the instructions short
LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:
- Display each question and underline a key word in the question with a different color
Related References
Evidence:
Kirk, E.W. & Clark, P. (2005). Beginning with names: Using children's names to facilitate early literacy learning. Childhood Education, 81, 139.
Activity Objective
The goal of Morning Sign-In: Building Math, Literacy, and Thinking Skills is to help students' build early math, literacy, and critical thinking skills as they interpret a poll about features of the names of students in the class.
What You Need
Prep Time:
20 minutes - Gather nametags - Prepare chart paper with sign-in poll
Task Time:
10-20 minutes - Students respond to a sign-in poll - Class discusses the results of the poll
Materials Required:
Teacher:
- Student name tags
- Chart paper
- Markers
What You Do
Teacher Role:
Supporter:
- As students answer the sign-in poll
Facilitator:
- while the classes discusses the poll results
Student Grouping:
Whole class:
- throughout activity
Assessment Ideas:
- Make observations and record anecdotal comments following the game to track students' development of thinking and listening skills
Quick Tips
Activity Extensions:
- Play a follow-up elimination game using your poll question as one of the clues
a. For example, "The mystery student has the letter a in their name. If you have the letter a in your name, stay standing. The mystery student has brown hair. The mystery student's name has 2 syllables."
b. Use clues that address literacy or critical thinking skills, for example: "This student's name begins with the sound /k/."
- Have students work in small groups to sort names according to a given clue or question
- Expand your polls to other concepts or questions, such as "How did you get to school today?" and allow students to add pictures to a graph that shows the possible methods of transportation (bike, walking, driving, bus, and so on) Additional Comments:
- Make sure to explain and model how students should search for their name and to answer the sign in question. - Using students' names allows students to make personal connections and is a meaningful way to build students' understanding of words. - Teaching and practicing new concepts through a game is a fun and motivating way for students to develop their understanding.
Other Adaptations/Modifications:
- Provide explicit steps and game expectations
Other Recipes by this Teacher
Who Lives Here?: Building Background Knowledge
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Picture Writing: Using Student Art to Motivate Early Writing
PreK - 1st
The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in Pre-Kindergarten
PreK - 6th
Mind Pictures: Promoting Comprehension through Visualization
PreK - 3rd
Community Circle: Fostering Oral Language Development
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