The Name Jar

As if being the new kid in class isn't already hard enough, Unhei was afraid that no one would be able to pronounce her name.  After careful consideration, she began a search for her own American name but soon enough her classmates realized that helping her see the special meaning in her own personal name was much more important.

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi shows the difficulties non-American people face when they come to live in the United States of America.  The pictures in the book really give the story life as they carefully express the story through them.  Her classmates helping her to figure out why her own name is unique helps build character and helps to get to know a classmate better as well as helping them with a personal matter.  Many Asian families migrate to the United States where they end up changing their children's names so that they will fit in with American culture.  Li becomes Michael, Chien-Shiung becomes Katie and so on.  This particular book is a great way to show Asian families that they can teach their children to love their own names and that they don't have to fit a "norm" in order to fit in.  Other books by this author are Peach Heaven, The Sun Girl and the Moon Boy, and This Next New Year.

Classroom Activities:

1.) Have each child write down 5 things they love about themselves.  After this, have them write down one thing they would like to change about themselves.  Read the story aloud together and then have the children present their lists.  Have the class help each student to get rid of the one thing they dislike about themselves by showing the child they are great the way they are.

2.) Have each child choose a name out of a name jar (like in the book).  Ask the child if they would like to be called by that name for the remainder of the classroom meeting.  If the child decides to keep the name, have them sit on one side of the room.  If the child chooses their own name, have them sit at the other side of the room.  Continue to do so until all children have chosen.  After reading the book aloud together, have the children who chose their own name, explain why they chose their own name.  After the children explain, ask the children who chose different names if they would still like to be called by their "jar name" for the rest of the class.  If some children still choose to be called another name, have them explain why and then have the other children convince them that their name is unique to them and that they should reconsider.

Goals (pertains to both classroom activities):

• Helps to build peer relationships between classmates that can last a lifetime.
• Allows students to get to know each other as well as helping their peers to find comfort in themselves.
• Gives students the opportunity to encourage, uplift, and embrace one another in a positive light.

Bibliography

Choi, Y. (2013). The Name Jar. Columbus, O.H.: Zaner-Bloser.