• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • About
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

teach mama logo

teach mama

helps families connect & build bridges between home & school, by amy mascott

  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

family names: reading and writing the ones we love

home / early literacy / beginning sounds / family names: reading and writing the ones we love
973 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

read and write family names cover.png

Homework time is still a really important part of our day, especially now that Owen’s in Kindergarten and Maddy’s second grade work is picking up.

And I really try my best to find something fun and focused for Cora to do while Maddy and Owen are doing their work.  Lately, she’s been really into learning how to spell our family names, so I’ve tried to ride that wave a bit.

I brought out our Family Playing Cards, and we all agreed that they needed to be updated.  Since I made these cards two years ago, we’ve seen some pets come and go, and we’ve added two new cousins to the mix–lucky us!  But those babies need cards!!

(Shhhhhh! Family Playing Cards 2.0 are in the works for cousins on both sides and for Maddy, Owen, and Cora–I can’t wait!)

Until then, though, we’ve pulled them out more often than not during work time and Cora’s played with them in various ways.

Here’s the skinny:

  • Family Names–Reading and Writing the Ones We Love:  Over the past two years our Family Playing Cards have seen a lot of action.  We’ve used them to play Go Fish!, Memory, Old Maid, you name it. Some days we’d just play with the males, and other days, we’d play with the females. Sometimes we’d break them up into families.  Some days we’d play with kids and other days we’d use adults.

 

read and write family names | teach mamaThe Family Playing Cards are in the basket, ready to go!

 

Though they took some time to initially create, the kids love them. I’d definitely recommend having a set and including family, close friends, playgroup buddies, and pets.

The family memory cards 2011 blank is here to download if you’d like.  All you need to do is print them out on cardstock, write family names (make two for each person!), and add photos. I used clear contact paper to keep them safe, but you don’t need to go that route.

 

read and write family names | teach mamaCora ‘reads’ the names of her family cards before she begins.

read and write family names | teach mamaEven Golden and Guinea have cards (even though they now have new owners!).

read and write family names | teach mamaUsually she digs for her own card and writes her name first, but today, she was third.

read and write family names | teach mama

For Cora, since she’s been into learning how to spell our family members’ names, I put all of the cards into a basket or box, and I’d say, Okay my friend, pull out three cards and put them on the table. Then in any order you choose, I want you to write the names of the people on the cards; you decide who you want to write first, second, and third. 

When you’re finished with one, let me know, because I want to see your awesome job, and then when you’re finished, you can erase it with this fancy sock. Ready?

Usually by that time I remind her of the directions, she’s started choosing cards, and it’s fine with me. I just try to remind her to show me the name when she’s finished so together we can compare letters and I can support her if she needs it.

 

And that was it–Cora really loves doing it, and we try to mix it up a bit.  Some days she

  • writes the names on the dry erase board (with a fancy missing-pair sock as the eraser)
  • paints the names with watercolor
  • writes them in rainbow markers
  • uses magnetic letters
  • stamps out the names
  • uses her finger in Jell-O.

It’s cool. And slowly but surely, she’s learning how to spell her family’s names.

I love playing with names with emerging readers because names are so important to our little guys. Usually names are the first words kiddos recognize, and family members’ names aren’t too far behind their own.   And I try to throw in a little bit o’ math vocabulary when I ask her which name she’ll write first, second, third, etc because why not throw in what we can, when we can.

Happy Family Name Card creating!!

You May Also Like...

  • how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep
    how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep
  • photo books for kids and family: 15 best, coolest, most clever and creative
    photo books for kids and family: 15 best, coolest, most clever and creative
  • Navigating Education in a Time of Uncertainty: A Virtual Summit for Educators
    Navigating Education in a Time of Uncertainty: A Virtual Summit for Educators

About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro · http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

Previous Post:holiday traditions: curious george holiday spectacular!
Next Post:how to keep kids safe online (yes, you must start NOW!)how to keep kids safe online

Sidebar

amy mascott profile blog

join the coolest club around:

  • About
  • Contact
  • disclaimer
  • terms of use
  • privacy policy
  • Site-Map

Instagram


our books

setting the stage for rock-star readers
raise a reader

Find Us On Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Helpful Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us On Instagram

View
Open
Even kids who dislike writing will LOVE to pen a note on these tiny cards! And the best news? These flowers last FOREVER!

Grab some here: 
https://zuli.ly/sl/n/t/ACEf

#makesomeonesday #featuredreel #teachersofIG #partner
View
Open
💜❤️🤍 THINK: VALENTINE’s DAY!! ❤️🤍💜

Sooooo many people we know LOVE cool sweatshirts. Skip the 🍬💕 this year and surprise your sweethearts with a fun, cozy, super-😎hoodie. 

Move now! $19 and FREE SHIPPING with my link here—> zulily.gfpv.net/x9eP6v

#coolvalentine #hoodieszn #ad #giftsfortweens #giftsforteens
View
Open
THANK YOU, @imse_og for the best. training. ever!!

WHERE on earth did this week go? It completely flew by!

Our instructor, Becky Strimple, was AWESOME. I am officially hooked on the #OrtonGillingham method, and I am already looking at the next IMSE course I can take to get me closer to Comprehensive OG Plus Certification. 

#UntilAllCanRead #imseog #readingrocks #multisensoryteaching #soexciting
View
Open
Day 4 of OG Training, and this 5 second video doesn’t even scratch the surface of what we covered. 

I have participated in dozens and dozens and dozens of trainings over the course of my career—and throughout my own education—but hands down this is the best one I have ever had. 

Every educator should take this. I don’t have the faintest idea why it’s not required for every edu degree. 

It’s not only a look at the best ways to teach decoding and encoding, but it’s a study of the English language as well. It’s wild. 

#ortongillingham #Letsread #ogteacher #readingteacher
View
Open
Day 3 of @imse_og Orton-Gillingham Training and I am 🤯. 

WHY did I not do this sooner?!

If YOU are OG-Trained, what did you find most helpful/ mind-blowing/ earth-shattering?

#ogteacher #ortongillinghamteachers #teachersofig #teachersfollowteachers
View
Open
Day 2 of Orton-Gillingham Training —we learned SO. MUCH. 

#OGtraining #readingteacher #teachreading #strivingreaders #ortongillingham
View
Open
So excited for Day 2 of @imse_og Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham Plus Training!

If YOU are familiar with OG, let me know. If you’ve taken this training, let me know. 

If you have advice or suggestions or questions, let me know!

Follow stories this week for more behind-the-scenes!

#ortongillingham #readingteachers #ortongillinghamteachers #teachreading #letsdothis💪
View
Open
Not. Even. Kidding. 

I have wanted to take this training for YEARS and years, and after DAY 1, I’m already psyched for tomorrow. 

If you have taken the @imse_og training (Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham Plus), what was your experience?

#ortongillingham #ortongillinghamteachers #readingteacher #scienceofreading
View
Open
To say we ate well last night at @st.anselm_dc would be a total understatement. Loved it!

#dceats #stanslemdc #foodiefamily #birthdaydinout #dcmetro #mocoeats

Copyright © 2023 · teach mama media, llc · All Rights Reserved

  • 1
973 shares