This Activity Is Picture-Perfect For New Students.

1. I write students’ names on sentence strips and put them in a pocket chart next to their pictures. During our first week of circle time we sort our pictures in the pocket chart by hair color, eye color, and initial letters in our names. I also mix the names up and have the kids re-sort them to match the name and picture. Later in the week, I pass out the name cards in a random fashion and have children match them to their friends.
2. I also use these pictures to make a classroom book. The first few pages are used to explain and illustrate our classroom procedures for entering the room, putting away our things, completing the morning activity, as well as for our classroom rules. The next pages have the children's pictures on them. The text under each photo reads: "My name is _________. This is my new friend..." I circulate the finished book among the children’s families. The families love knowing what their children do in school and the kids love being able to read their new friends’ names!