NAMES
Ask each person their name. Then ask how they would have felt if I had missed one out.
1. Stimulus
Take in some soft toys and a plant. Introduce them. Change their names at various times in the discussion. Wear a name tag. Change my name in the discussion at various times.
Start with big lizard and little lizard and then swap them around
Give the lizards the same name - lizard
Give the lizards one of the students names
Call the plant by a name - Eliza
Call the plant 'cat'
Call one of them Santa Claus
2. Names of pets and toys
Big lizard and little lizard - are these good names? What if I swapped them around?
Do you have toys with names?
Why are they called that?
Do names mean something?
Does your name mean something?
If you had a pet tiger what would you call it?
If you had a pet elephant what would you call it?
If you had a pet kangaroo what would you call it?
Can I change the name of my lizard? why or why not?
Can I change their name to your name? Why or Why not?
Can my plant have a name? Eliza the plant - is this a good name?
3. Do you have any special names your family or friends call you?
Why do you think they call you this?
Which one is your real name?
Why is it your real name?
4. What else apart from people have names?
toys houses streets plants cities flowers days of the week
words names Do all things have names?
5. Can you change your name?
If you changed your name would you be the same person?
Does it matter if you had a different name?
Would your name be different if everyone called you something different?
Is it O.K. to change our names?
Can I change your name?
Can your parents
6. "I can't remember all your names so I think I will call you all Lucy"
Would this be alright? Why or Why not?
What would it be like if everyone had the same name?
Do other people have the same name as you?
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From: Clinton Golding <cgolding@clear.net.nz>
TEXT: "A Man Who Collects Odd Names" by Mike Harden
Scripps Howard News Service
PROCESS
Read the humorous piece through together.
Have fun with the tongue twisters. Assist readily.
Any reactions/ questions?
ISSUES
Names individualise us. You, you and you! Significance of one's name.
Much more friendly to use one another's names in community of inquiry.
What of US practice of X.Y. Jnr.?
Nicknames - affectionate or hurtful.
Do names characterise/ label the person? eg Cyril.
The baby with no name - Baby X, the witness Mrs Y, etc.
Celebrities choosing anonymity.
Authors choosing a pseudonym: a woman in a man's world, greater chance of being published. Deceptions.
Names are chosen for us. People changing their names by deedpoll: Pauline Pantsdown.
Does odd name = odd person?
Advice: We ought to learn to pronounce foreign names of classmates.
Unfair practice of anglisizing given names.
Diminutives can hurt: Joeie, Smithie, etc.
REVIEW
Much more friendly to use one another's names in community of inquiry.
Advice: We ought to learn to pronounce foreign names of classmates.
Ask for the right to use a nickname first - can be hurtful.
G. B. Smith 1998.