Who our kids are matters! This simple, powerful journal activity helps them feel seen. Students reflect on their names, family history, nicknames, and pronunciation while practicing self-expression and identity-building.
I model this activity by sharing my own name story, what I named my kids, and why it’s important to celebrate the name you want to be called, not just what’s convenient for others. Every time, students are eager to share, and I learn so much more about them than I do with other community-building activities.
This resource includes:
Student-facing journal reflection slide for independent work
Teacher display slide to guide whole-group discussion
A ready-to-use prompt that builds trust, connection, and classroom culture
Perfect for:
✔️ Back-to-School identity activities
✔️ SEL and morning meetings
✔️ Community-building lessons
✔️ Writing warm-ups
Give your students the gift of being known, starting with the story of their names.
Who our kids are matters! This simple, powerful journal activity helps them feel seen. Students reflect on their names, family history, nicknames, and pronunciation while practicing self-expression and identity-building.
I model this activity by sharing my own name story, what I named my kids, and why it’s important to celebrate the name you want to be called, not just what’s convenient for others. Every time, students are eager to share, and I learn so much more about them than I do with other community-building activities.
This resource includes:
Student-facing journal reflection slide for independent work
Teacher display slide to guide whole-group discussion
A ready-to-use prompt that builds trust, connection, and classroom culture
Perfect for:
✔️ Back-to-School identity activities
✔️ SEL and morning meetings
✔️ Community-building lessons
✔️ Writing warm-ups
Give your students the gift of being known, starting with the story of their names.
