Trying to remain positive

mckayleesmom wrote: Mckaylee is probably one of the only kids in the world that still doesn't know how to write or spell her name. I practiced with her all summer...but I think it's more of the fact that it's me. If I told her to leave a room that was on fire..she would argue with me and do what she wants to do. I think she will pick it up rather quickly when she sees other kids doing it. She can write most of the letters...but she just doesn't want to put them in order...

This morning I was looking through Mckaylee's book bag and I noticed this cute little bear they did out of construction paper. I looked at the back and it's obvious that an adult spelt her name on there and then tried to help her write her name. She did pretty good, but if they are going to help her spell her name...they might want to teach her to spell it correctly..her name is not Macklee...

I'm probably over reacting, but after they kept saying her name wrong after writing it all over the room correctly...it's just grating on my nerves.

mammag replied: She'll get it...and then you'll have something else you'll be worrying about.

Maybe you could try making a something for her to trace over again and again first. Like a dotted form (I'm sure there is an actual name for these) and have her do 10 or so a day. Also, you could try writing each letter on an index card and have her start putting the letters in the right order. She'll remember how many there are supposed to be when she starts writng it on her own. Another thing would be to teach her what sound each letter makes so she starts sounding it out as she does it and will reinforce how the letters have to go in a certain order to make the name right. Put them in a wrong order and show her how it doesn't sound right if they are in that order.

Good luck! Don't let it worry you. All kids learn at a different pace and in different ways, you just have to find the way that clicks for her.

mckayleesmom replied:
Thanks for the advice. I have done all of the above and I also bought her one of those traceable abc mats from target a while back....Honestly I think she just does it to me. The other day I did her flashcards of words she has to know for the first part of kindy...she got them all right..The second time I asked her..she pretended she didn't know any of them

mammag replied: It very well could be. I know Kristen was that way. Even last year. She would go on and on about how horrible she was at math and was going to "fail the standardized test". She really had me worried.... and then the silly girl goes and scores Advanced...

She never gave the teachers at her writing & science classes she took every Thursday a hard time... just mom.

msoulz replied: Handwriting worksheets

Check out the above link. Our kids are taught "Denelian" but if yours are taught normal letters check out the web site to find that, I am sure it is there. You can type in her name (or whatever) and it will make you a work sheet that she can use to practice with. It's very cool!

home page for handwriting worksheets

ETA here is the link directly to the home page and then you can select the standard or Denelian or cursive.

ZandersMama replied:
wow those are great, ty for the link! Zander is doing them now!

AlexsPajamaMama replied: We did the letter pages that you print out and they trace...and just let her do it at her own pace she wont be perfect in the begining and thats ok. Just think, she will not be 15 and not knowing how to write her name. She'll get it, and very quickly, and she will be writing her name all the time all over the place!!
I love the ones that you type their names or whatever for them to practice

Maddie&EthansMom replied: It's all developmental and what she's doing is normal. She will pick it up before you know it and you will forget it was ever a concern.

I'm sorry they are spelling/saying her name wrong. Now that is frustrating.

mckayleesmom replied:
I know she is capable..I'm not worried about that. I know that she is just being stubborn with me. Matter of fact, the other day we were at the doctors office and you know how they have those surveys and quizes to see where your child is developmentally? I told her that the doctor wanted her to write her name and she did.....If she thinks she is doing it for someone else to be impressed by it..she is all for it. It wasn't perfect, but I'm not looking for that yet.

The name thing just irritates me because if they are going to help her spell her name, they might want to make sure they are teaching her the correct spelling.

msoulz replied:
Perhaps you should print out the spelling sheets with her name and give it to the teachers to practice!!

MommyToAshley replied: Have you checked with the teacher to make sure that they have her name on their roster correctly? With the mispronounciation and spelling the name wrong, I would just write the teacher a note to confirm that they have it correct to begin with. Like you said, you don't want to confuse her more. I remember when Ashley went to kindergarten, they teacher had name plates with all the kids first and last names taped on their desk. It not only marked where they sat, but they used it for reference when they were writing their names.

jcc64 replied: I understand your frustration. Ds's name is Alec with a 'c', and even relatives sometimes call him Alex with an 'x'. It happens so often he doesn't bother correcting people anymore. I know your concerns are related to developmental expectations, but face it, she's got a lot of letters to keep track of in her name, and kids also like to mess with us sometimes. If Corey senses she's "on the spot" when I'm trying to teach her something, sometimes she pretends not to know it when she really does. Idk why she does this, maybe it's a control thing, but it's more likely a coping strategy and I take the cue to back off a little bit. Maybe just drop it for a little while and let the teachers handle it (once they learn the correct spelling themselves).

mckayleesmom replied:
That is exactly what I think it is. I just don't push it if she continues. Part of the problem I think is that McKaylee is very on the go..constantly on the move and loves to be outside. She doesn't have any interest in sitting with me to learn something.

I know that in the classroom they have her name labled everywhere correctly.