Forget Say Your Name, Sing Write Your Name: How I Get My Sixth Graders To Write Their Names On Their Papers Every Time

 Well, almost everytime!

Okay, so I know what you are thinking: Sing directions to sixth graders.  Yeah, right!  
It works.  I'm not kidding. 

Singing directions is a normal activity in K-2 classrooms, the kids love the fact that the directions have a happy tune and they are more likely to do it by singing while they follow directions.  If it works with K-2, it will probably work with older kids as well.  You just need to throw in the humor while you sing by saying, "I know that I am not Beyonce, but " and just launch into the song with Beyonce's attitude (notice that I did not say singing talent)! Followed, by a dramatic look on your face, and then you will have them hooked. 

The first couple of times that I sang this song, I received some silly laughs from my sixth graders, but how many hours of their teaching careers do teachers send on trying to figure out whose names are on papers.  Come on! You would think that sixth graders have it down by now!  Now, the second I hand something out or have students to turn something in, I hear the words, "Sing it Mrs. Eller.  Sing the song!"  And while I am singing, they sing and laugh with me.  Don't underestimate the power of humor with your middle schoolers or older elementary age students. They are laughing and singing with me, but they all have their names, block, and date on their paper.  I did have to explain that when I say write your name, I really mean to write your name, date, and which block class you are in.

So, what is the magical song you ask, here it is.  Just belt it out to the tune of "Say My Name."