Too many names to choose from

“Naomi S! Naomi S!”  Daniella kept shouting her name over and over again when it was time to clear her table after snack today. But here’s what I couldn’t figure out: Naomi S. was sitting only a short distance away, and she was staring right at Daniella. So why was she still yelling to get her attention? Finally, I said, “Daniella...Naomi S. is looking right at you - is it Naomi M. that you’re trying to talk to?” Daniella stared blankly at me for a few seconds, trying to take in what I was saying to her. It’s tough in a classroom with 39 children to navigate everyone’s name - even harder when there are duplicates. This year, besides two Naomi's, we have three Miles' to content with, a June versus a Juni, as well as an Abby and a Gabby. So it’s no wonder the children are still getting confused two months into the school year with who beongs to which last initial, etc. Finally, Daniella picked right up with her yelling, only this time she’d corrected herself: “Naomi M! Naomi M!” she sreamed, but now her desired recipient was almost halfway across the classroom. Wanting this all to stop, I went over to Naomi M. and said, “Naomi, I have no idea what Daniella needs you for, but can you please just go over and find out?” Dutifully, Naomi M. stopped wiping her table and headed over. “Yeah?” she asked Daniella point blank. And, cool as a cucumber, in the sweetest voice you’ve ever heard coming out of a three-year-old, Daniella whispered back, “Hi.” I caught the eye of my co-teacher at this exact moment, and we burst into laughter. It’s hard to explain to someone who doesn’t work with small children how much energy the simplest of things seems to take in any given day. Getting someone to stop yelling across the room without yelling at them yourself requires all the patience and energy one can muster. But when you're met with the sweetest, softest little of hellos, you just gotta enjoy the moment.