Are you ready to explore ways to help your beginning or struggling readers learn to decode CVC words? You’ve landed in the right spot! This round-up blog post includes 9 ways to help you transform your CVC word instruction. 

Go ahead and scroll down to find the ways that pique your interest. Then, be sure to click on the highlighted words. Each link will take you to either a blog post or a product page with additional information. 

Assess Skills to Target Instruction

Let’s get started with some assessments!

Begin by checking out my blog post, How to Get Started With Teaching CVC Words, for questions to ask yourself if you’re teaching students with little to no exposure to decoding.

On the other hand, if you’re teaching readers who can decode some CVC words but have not yet achieved mastery, you might want to administer the first list in my Decoding Assessment for One-Syllable Words (or use a similar assessment) to target the specific skills you need to teach.

Head on over to How to Assess Decoding Skills and Help Target Instruction. You can read more and find links to download this free assessment.

Use Letter Sound Mats to Decode CVC Words

One of my favorite tools for teaching decoding and encoding of phonetically regular words is a letter sound mat.

You can use this flexible activity with an individual or a small group of students. Use it as you follow any instructional scope and sequence.

Find out more in this blog post, How to Get Started With Teaching CVC Words. You’ll also get a link to a free set of letter cards you can download and print.

Build In Support to Decode CVC Words

Do you have students who are constantly searching your classroom walls to find an image that will help them figure out what sound a letter stands for in order to decode unknown words?

So, why not give them what they need right at their fingertips? I created my Blend to Read CVC Words With Key Word Pictures to do just that.

Find out who might benefit and how to use this tool with your students in my blog post, How to Build in Support to Decode CVC Words. In addition, you’ll find a link to download a free sample.

CVC Word Mapping With High-Frequency Words

You’ll want to try this word mapping resource designed to help your beginning and struggling readers connect the sounds they hear with the letters they see in CVC words.

By strengthening those phoneme-grapheme associations, you’ll set your students on the road to orthographic mapping. Plus, you’ll help them build automatic word recognition for high-frequency CVC words.

Each of the 34 words in this resource can be represented by a visual image.

Ready to learn more? Are You Curious About Orthographic Mapping? is the blog post to read.

Rapid Word Recognition Charts

Discover what rapid word recognition charts are, why to try them, who will benefit, and how to create your own. Click to read Do You Want to Know All About Rapid Word Recognition Charts?

While you’re there, check out my ready-made charts using 52 high-frequency CVC words.

Minimal Pairs for Decoding Practice

Take a few minutes to understand what minimal pairs are and how you can use them for decoding. 

When you use minimal pairs (or trios, etc.) you’ll be giving your students a gentle reminder to look carefully at every letter when they decode CVC words. 

My feed-me resources with minimal pairs (and trios) are an excellent way to provide bite-sized decoding practice.

Feed Me S’Mores includes 49 target high-frequency CVC words. 

I’ve included a roll-and-read freebie in the blog post, How to Effectively Use Minimal Pairs for Bite-Sized Decoding Practice, so you can try out decoding with minimal pairs.

CVC Word Puzzles

These farm-themed puzzles are an engaging way to give your beginning and struggling readers the practice they need to decode and encode CVC words. The focus is on 34 high-frequency CVC words that can be represented by a visual image. 

Head over to my TPT store to learn more about these CVC Word Puzzles.

Free Football Fun

Let your students have a little fun with this football-themed activity. They’ll decode a CVC word and then match it to a picture that illustrates its meaning. This read-and-color (or read-and-cover) freebie includes 16 high-frequency CVC words.

Click the highlighted words to download your free copy of Football Fun. 

You’ll find a second set of these Football Fun activity sheets with 16 more CVC words included in the bonus file of my CVC Words Decoding Bundle. 

Phonics Word Lists

Still More…

1. A Pizza My Heart (-at, -ip, and -ug spelling patterns)
2. Roll-A-Rainbow

If you made it this far, I’d love for you to share the idea, freebie, or product that was most helpful for you and your students in the comments below!

The post 9 Amazing Ways to Help Your Students Decode CVC Words appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

If you’re thinking about…

• summer
• high-interest activities
• addressing learning loss
• or hands-on engagement

Then, I’ve got a plethora of ways to help meet your instructional needs that will grab your students’ attention.

Whether you need to develop conceptual understanding or focus on practice and review, I have a resource to address it.

Free Resources for Teaching 3 Digit Numbers

Get started by looking through these links for ideas and free resources.

One Free and Refreshing Place Value Activity (2 and 3 digit numbers)

Here’s a free activity to bolster your first, second, and third graders’ understanding of place value concepts. Help students make explicit connections between the standard, expanded, and word forms of two or three-digit numbers using a fun popsicle theme.

One Free Sensational Way to Compare Numbers

Try this free activity to teach, practice, or review comparing three-digit numbers at a concrete, representational, or abstract level. Use this sunglasses-themed resource year-round whenever your students are comparing numbers!

How to Teach 100 Less and More

Use this free animal camouflage-themed activity to target learning at the concrete, representational, and/ or abstract level. Direct your instruction to one level or overlap two levels. Make learning accessible for all your students!

How to Expand Your Kids’ Counting Skills

I created these free, easy-to-prepare Forest Animal Prompt Cards to implement as part of your classroom 3 digit number counting routines. You can use these with the whole class, in small groups, or in an independent math center. All you need is a few minutes here and there.

A New Product to Practice and Review 3 Digit Numbers

Keep going with my newest resource, Fin-tastic Numbers.

Do sharks fascinate your students? Go ahead and snag their interest with this small group math activity, designed for practicing and reviewing 3 digit number skills in second or third grade.

With this flexible resource, you can choose the skills that best match your students’ instructional needs. You’ll also have a choice of color or black/ white.

You’ll find 6 printable activity mats. Each mat has 10 three-digit numerals, with a total of 24 different ones.

There are ten sets of 24 cards, including a set with just the numerals.

The skills covered are:

• the number after and the number before
• 10 more and 10 less than
• 100 more and 100 less than
• number word
• expanded form
• how many hundreds, tens, and ones

Your students will:

• Take turns to pick a card.
• Read the card and determine the corresponding number.
• Cover or color the fin with that number.

Who can color or cover all their numbers first?

Extend the use of the skill and number cards with the additional matching activities or the open-ended worksheets that are included with this resource.

Click on the highlighted words to find out more about Fin-Tastic Numbers- A Shark-Themed 3 Digit Activity, available for purchase in my TpT store.

While you’re there, check out my Collect Them All Bundle of Task Cards for Second Grade Number Skills.

Free Worksheets for Practice and Review

Finish up with this new set of shark-themed free worksheets, perfect for practicing and reviewing 3 digit number skills.

This freebie includes 3 print and go worksheets.

1. Write the numbers that are 1, 10, and 100 more and less than the given number.
2. Round given numbers to the nearest 10 and nearest 100.
3. Complete a quick draw using squares, lines, and dots to represent the hundreds, tens, and ones in a given number. Then, write the number word and the expanded form of that number. (Two choices for writing lines.)

Download your free copy of Fin-tastic Number Worksheets by clicking on the highlighted words.

Did you find what you needed to teach 3 digit numbers? Let me know in the comments below!

Photo in title image by Ramon Carreterro.

The post How to Easily Sharpen Skills for 3 Digit Numbers appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

To help you with that December challenge, I have two new number activities featuring stockings (including a freebie) to share with you.

Stockings in Order 0-120

Are you looking for an engaging activity for sequencing the numbers 0 – 120? This Christmas-themed resource will give your students plenty of practice with ordering consecutive and non-consecutive numbers and with counting by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s to 120.

Use this whimsical resource for Google Slides^TM to provide individualized practice or review for your kindergarten, first, and second-grade students. Try it as a math center or as a virtual assignment.

Those rascals, Cat and Dog have mixed up all the stockings. Your students will need to drag and drop to reorder them.

Cat and Dog also forgot to finish the count by sequences. Your students will need to be able to click on a question mark in a text box, delete the question mark (but not the text box), and type in a number.

Your students will practice ordering:

• Consecutive Numbers 0-10
• Non-Consecutive Numbers 0-10
• Consecutive Numbers 7-20
• Non-Consecutive Numbers 11-20
• Non-Consecutive Numbers 0-20
• Consecutive Numbers Within a Decade 21-120
• Consecutive Numbers Across a Decade 11-120
• Non-Consecutive Numbers Within a Decade 21-120
• Non-Consecutive Numbers 21-120
• Count By 10’s to 120
• 5’s to 120
• 2’s to 20
• 2’s to 120
• Count by 10’s Off the Decade

Choose one set for all your students or choose different sets for individual students. Use as a one-time assignment or multiple assignments across time.

You can delete, copy, and rearrange the slides to meet your needs.

Skip on over to my TpT store to take a closer look at Stockings in Order 0-120.

Not sure if your students can drag and drop or delete and type? Check out these Try It Before You Buy It slides. Be sure they are the right choice for you, your learning platform, your students, and their devices!

I also offer a similar print resource, Christmas Lights in Order 0-120, which is very popular this time of year.

Hang the Stockings- Comparing Two or Three-Digit Numbers

You’ll love this free and easy to prepare greater than and less than Christmas math activity. Your first, second, and third-grade students will have fun while getting practice with comparing two or three-digit numbers against a benchmark number.

Choose two-digit or three-digit numbers.

Your students will need:

• one page with two fireplaces and one set of stockings
• crayons
• scissors
• glue
• optional construction paper (9″ x 12″ or 6″ x 18″)

Your students will:

• Color the fireplaces.
• Cut the page in half on the dotted line.
• Glue the fireplaces onto construction paper (optional).
• Color the stockings.
• Cut them out.
• Sort them by numbers less than or greater than 55 or 550.
• Hang the stockings on the correct fireplace.
• Glue them in place.

You will:

• Sit back and relax with your favorite hot beverage.
• Enjoy the quiet calm for a few moments.
• Use your students’ creations for an attractive holiday display!

To make it easier, I recommend students loosely cut around the stockings or cut them as rectangles.

Students may also glue the fireplaces in a notebook or simply keep the fireplace page intact.

Visit my TpT store to download your free copy of Hang the Stockings Comparing Numbers.

Curious About the Origins of Stockings…

I discovered this article, The Legend of the Christmas Stocking, in the Smithsonian Magazine. It’s an interesting read if you’re not familiar with the legend.

Looking For More Resources…

Check out these blog posts for more free number activities, perfect for the season.

• How to Easily Stuff a Little Learning into December (preschool and kindergarten numeral recognition)
• One Way to Keep ‘Em Busy This Holiday Season (rounding two and three-digit numbers)

Click on the categories below to see more resources in my TpT store.

• Christmas
• Numbers & Number Sense
• Numbers & Place Value
• For Use With Google Slides^TM

I’d love to hear about the kinds of activities you find are best to engage your wiggly, distracted students this time of year! Please share in the comments below.

Photos in images by Coffee Beans and Children’s Dreams and LiliGraphie.

The post How to Put a Little Festive Learning in Their Stockings appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

You need to match resources with the best ways to engage your learners, whether you’re teaching them face to face and socially distanced or teaching them virtually.

I initially made only 2 face masks, thinking the need would be short-term. Likewise, I waited, hopeful, that all students would be physically back in school this fall with print resources in hand. Now, I’m trying to catch up!

I’ve got the fabric. I just need to make time to sew more masks.

I’ve got the print resources. I just need to start creating more digital versions.

Take a look at this blog post, How to Build in Support to Decode CVC Words, to learn about my Blend to Read CVC Words With Keyword Pictures. It is a set of 180 printable word cards. The word cards are  designed to support beginning or struggling readers as they learn to decode CVC words in kindergarten and first grade.

You’ll also find a link in the blog post for a free sample with short a CVC words so you can decide if this resource is a good fit for your students.

Here’s the new, just completed, digital version, Blend to Read Take a Peek CVC. It is a set of 100 CVC words for use with Google Slides™.

There is one three-letter short vowel word without consonant blends or digraphs on each slide. All of the words can be represented by an image. This resource includes 20 short a, 20 short e, 20 short i, 20 short o, and 20 short u words.

How Can I Use This Digital Resource?

Present the slides during instruction with your whole class or in small groups. Or assign them as an independent practice to individual students.

Select, reorder, and delete the slides, as needed, to meet the instructional needs of your students.

How Do My Students Interact With the Slides?

Just like the print version, there is a keyword picture for easy reference above each letter to assist your students with letter-sound correspondence.

There is a dot below each letter. Students say the sound that each letter represents, using the keyword picture only as needed. They can move the pointing finger as they do this.

Then, they blend the sounds together to read the word.

Finally, they can take a peek by dragging the sticky note off the image and checking to see if they successfully decoded the word.

Click the highlighted words to view the print version, the digital version, or the money-saving print plus digital bundle of Blend to Read CVC Words in my TpT store.

Don’t forget to check out these free related resources!

• Blend to Read Short a Words Sample for Use With Google Slides™
• Blend to Read Short a Words Sample (Print)
• Letter Sound Picture Cards

Looking For More Resources…

Click on the categories below to view more resources available in my TpT store.

• Blend to Read
• Resources For Google Slides™
• Phonics

Take a look around my TpT store. Let me know in the comments below which resources you’d like to see in a digital format to support your instruction.

Mock-up styled images by Coffee Beans and Children’s Dreams and Blame It on the Weekend.

The post How to Have It Your Way- Print or Digital appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

Some children learn to recognize the numerals 0-10 with exposure to a few books, games, and/or activities. Then, they’re all set to go.

However, there are other children who struggle with symbol recognition- whether it’s the name of colors, shapes, letters, or numerals.

Here are three ways to help children who have difficulty with symbols learn to recognize numerals.

Just a little tidbit about numerals and numbers. A numeral is a symbol or name that is used to represent a number. A number is a count or measurement. And yes, I’d like to just refer to both as a number!

Assess Before Teaching Numeral Recognition

Before you start teaching, you’ll want to know which numerals your students already recognize with ease. All you need is a basic set of flashcards 0-10. Assess your students individually.

Flash the numeral cards one at a time in random order. For a less stressful way, lay a few cards down at a time on a flat surface. Then, ask your student to find and name a numeral they know. Record the numerals each student needs to learn.

With this knowledge, you’ll know where to start- with zero or maybe just a few to go. Create small instructional groups, as needed.

At the end of this post, you’ll find a link for a free resource. It includes basic flashcards 0-10. It also includes two alternate half-page numeral assessments.

Give your student a copy of the numeral page. Have them point to and say each numeral. You can use a second copy to record any errors.

Make It Multi-Sensory

Just like letters and sounds, numerals and numbers can be introduced, practiced, and reviewed in a multi-sensory way. Link the name (numeral) with its formation and corresponding quantity (number). Have your students use their fingers to show quantity.

Multi-Sensory Ways to Teach Numeral Recognition

• Tracing and writing on a chalkboard using large muscle movements
• Skywriting using full-range arm movements
• Rainbow writing on a chalkboard or large on a piece of paper
• Finger writing in a sensory tray
• Forming numerals with playdough

Keep it multi-sensory! Look at the numeral. Say its name. Form the numeral. Show the quantity.

I made a free set of self-checking flashcards with ten frames. You can pair these (or the basic ones) with a sensory tray. Scroll to the bottom of this post to download them.

Here are a few blog posts with useful information you can adapt for teaching numeral recognition.

Helpful Blog Posts

• Introduce Letters and Sounds the Multi-Sensory Way
• Review Letters and Sounds the Multi-Sensory Way
• Stuff a Little Learning into December

My newest resource, Pet Themed Activities for Numeral Recognition 0-10, is available in my TpT store. It includes several activities for multi-sensory instruction. You’ll find numeral formation mats, count to recognize mats, and ten frame mats.

Use a Systematic, Sequential Approach For Teaching

Provide step-by-step instruction. It increases the odds of student success! Let your assessment results be your starting point. Here’s an example if you’re beginning with zero.

• Teach 0.
• Teach 1.
• Practice/ review with activities for only 0 and 1.
• Teach 2.
• Practice/ review with activities for just 0, 1, and 2.
• Teach 3, etc.

Be sure to assess and reteach when needed, as you go!

I used this structure to create Pet Themed Activities for Numeral Recognition 0-10. Each numeral is introduced individually in numerical order, 0-10.

There are four activities that focus on teaching recognition of a single numeral.

• numeral formation mats
• count to recognize mats
• ten frame mats
• treat jar numeral searches

In addition, there are eight activities that provide a cumulative review, generally starting with 2.

• number tower mats
• cup craze mats
• 3 sets of how many worksheets
• color by number worksheets
• spin & trace worksheets
• roll & say worksheets

You can find a Numeral Recognition Free Sample of some of these activities for teaching the numeral 4 in my TpT store.

Click on the highlighted words, Numeral Flashcards 0-10, to download another freebie. It includes basic numeral flashcards, two half-page assessment sheets, and self-checking flashcards with ten frames.

I’d love to hear about your favorite activities for teaching numeral recognition!

Photo in title image by Almaje.

The post 3 Helpful Ways to Improve Numeral Recognition appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

Wait… you’re telling them that vowels can stand for more than one sound and not all words have the CVC pattern. Yikes!

Some Considerations

Learning vowel patterns and sounds pose a greater difficulty for young readers than the consonants. Consonant sounds are typically easier to learn and are more consistent. Vowels represent multiple sounds. Generalizations about vowel patterns are less regular.

So just how reliable is the vowel-consonant-e pattern? Actually, it depends on the vowel. For a-e, i-e, and u-e the first vowel stands for the long sound for roughly 75% of the words studied. For o-e it is less than 60% and e-e less than 20%. If you’re interested, read the specifics in this article (Francine Johnston, 2001).

When teaching these VCe patterns, I tend to say most of the time the vowel a stands for the long sound or some of the time the vowel o does, rather than teaching these as absolute rules. Consider teaching advanced learners and older students the consistent exceptions outlined in the article linked above.

During the latter part of my teaching career, I focused on teaching my students to visually recognize vowel patterns in words. I don’t believe that letters make sounds or in one letter making another letter do something. (Listen carefully to that letter a. Now, what do you hear?) Instead, letters stand for or represent sounds.

But I never considered applying the same logic about the final letter e being silent! Here’s a thought-provoking entry (OnTrack Reading) about that idea which also discusses teaching the vowel-consonant-e pattern as a split vowel digraph.

I know you stopped by looking for practical resources. So whether you teach these words as magic e, silent e, vowel-consonant-e, or a split vowel digraph, here are a few ideas and resources (including some freebies) to help you out!

Letter-Sound Picture Cards

Introduce the vowel pattern and vowel sounds with this free set of letter/ sound picture cards. They are also perfect for daily practice in kindergarten, first, or second grade.

There are two sets of cards. One set has color key word pictures while the other has black and white. These cards are sized for instruction with small groups or individuals.

Print on cardstock and laminate for durability. Then, cut into cards and you’re ready to go.

Introduce or practice each letter/ sound picture card by naming the letters, naming the picture, and saying the sound (a-consonant-e, cake, ā). Some children may need to include an extra step and say the rhyming part (-ake) to hear the isolated vowel sound.

Be sure your students know what consonants are! Most likely they can identify vowels but may not know a “label” for all the other letters.

Find free letter/ sound picture cards in my TpT store for consonants and short vowels, consonant digraphs, and the silent e pattern.

Letter-Sound Mats

Try a letter-sound mat to contrast the difference between VC and VCe patterns. Use this activity with an individual or small group of students.

Select pairs of VC and VCe words such as cap and cape, din and dine, and rob and robe. Start with the first vowel in the word. Code the letters with the V (vowel), C (consonant), and e (silent e) cards to highlight the difference. Apply the corresponding vowel sounds to decode the words.

Begin by modeling the process. Then, let your students take over the coding.

You can also complete this same activity by writing the words on a whiteboard.

You can present this as an introductory activity, save it for later, or do both.

Find more information about letter-sound mats in these two posts; How to Get Started With Teaching CVC Words, and How to Address the Challenge of Consonant Digraphs.

Click the highlighted words to download a recently updated set of free letter cards to use with a letter-sound mat.

Blend to Read Silent e Word Lists

I created these easy to prepare word lists to support your beginning or struggling readers as they learn to decode words with the vowel-consonant-e pattern. Each list has three or four silent e words with the same first vowel. The vowels have diacritical marks to show the first one represents the long vowel sound and the e is silent.

There is a key word picture representing the vowel pattern and sound at the top of each word list to assist your students with letter-sound correspondence.

There is a dot below each letter (or digraph), except for the silent e. Students touch each dot and say the sound that the letter or letters represent(s). Then, they blend the sounds together to read the word as they sweep their finger along the arrow.

Try these word lists as part of your direct phonics instruction, in your small guided, intervention, and resource groups. After some in-class practice, you could even send them home. The Blend to Read Silent e Word Lists are available for purchase in my TpT store.

Roll & Read Silent e

Let your students practice their decoding skills with this free game-like activity. It’s a fun and effective way to increase their speed and fluency.

This is a great activity to use in your small groups, in a literacy center, or with an assistant or volunteer. Consider sending it home or leaving it for a sub.

Just print, add dice, and go!

Select the page(s) with the words you’d like your students to read. Print one copy for each participating student.

1. More familiar silent e words without consonant blends and digraphs; each row has a single vowel sound
2. Less familiar words without consonant blends and digraphs; each row has a single vowel sound
3. Silent e words with consonant blends and digraphs; a single vowel sound in each row
4. Silent e words with and without consonant blends and digraphs; a mix of vowels in each row

Students can consume the paper or you can place them in a dry erase pocket to reuse.

Roll the die. Find the corresponding number on your paper. Read the row of words. Color one ice cream cone.

Roll and read again, and again, and again! Color an ice cream cone each time you read a row of words.

Continue playing until you have read each row at least one time, or one row three times, or your time is up, etc. Anything goes!

Download your free copy of Roll & Read Silent e.

Integrate New Learning With the Old

Once your students can successfully decode silent e words, you’ll want to make sure they can discriminate between the two familiar vowel patterns, VC and VCe. A letter-sound mat (see above) is a handy tool at this point.

Try my easy to prepare Systematic and Sequential Phonetic Word Lists Step 2. They are an engaging way for first and second-grade students to apply their decoding skills and to develop fluency in reading one-syllable words with the short vowel, silent e, and long vowel team patterns.

This is a comprehensive, step-by-step resource that can be individualized for your guided reading, intervention, and resource groups or for tutoring sessions.

This resource is now available in either a superhero or an adorable hedgehog theme.

I hope you found some ideas and resources to help you teach the vowel-consonant-e pattern! Let me know which ones were effective for your students.

The porcupine photo in the title image is by Nick Fox.

The post Is the Silent E Pattern Proving to Be Prickly? appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

A Free Counting and Number Recognition Activity

Here’s an easy to prepare kids on the bus clip card activity for your preschoolers and kindergarteners. Practice one-to-one correspondence while counting kids on the bus. Match the quantity, 0-10, to the numeral for recognition.

Provide clothespins to clip the correct numerals. Or use a dry erase crayon/ marker to mark them. Try these cards in your small groups as a warm-up or exit activity. Set them up as an independent center. Students who are ready can write the numbers on the optional recording sheet.

Click on the words, Count the Kids Clip Cards 0-10, to download this freebie.

More Free Number Activities

Check out these additional free activities.

Pick a Pencil Ten Frames Activity by the Kindergarten Connection

Back to School, I Spy by ABCs to ACTs

Feed Me Numbers Crayon Activity for Back to School by Fun Learning for Kids

New & Affordable Number Activities

Here are two of the newest additions, available to purchase, in my TpT store.

For preschool and kindergarten, these school-themed full-page number mats, 0-10, are designed to develop skills in counting, numeral recognition, and numeral formation. These are, intentionally, very basic mats.

The 3 sets of mats have a numeral along with a corresponding number of items to count; stars, crayons, and pencils. The numerals have green, yellow, and red dots along with arrows to guide correct formation. They are perfect for finger tracing, using dry erase markers, or play dough.

Both counting the items and naming the numeral while engaged in forming it help to develop recognition. Your students can simply count the pictures. Additionally, they can represent the quantities with star buttons, crayons, golf pencils, craft pebbles, pompoms, mini-erasers, playdough balls, or most any counter you have on hand.

For kindergarten and early first grade, try these easy to prepare school themed half-page clip cards, 10-20. There are three sets of cards (crayons, pencils, or stars on a backpack), each in color and black/ gray/ white.

Each card has a picture of a group of ten along with extra ones to represent a number 10-20. There are lines on each card for writing each number as 10 + _. The correct number can be clipped with a clothespin or marked with a dry erase marker or crayon.

Newly Revised Number Sense Activities

And last but not least, be sure to take a peek at these two roam the room number sense resources. Both of them; one for numbers 0-10, the other for 10-19; were recently given a cosmetic makeover!

Photo of numbers in title image is by Speech-Language Pirates.

The post Free & Affordable Number Activities for a New School Year appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

Photo by Snapshots and Smiles

Here’s a free activity that you can use to teach, practice, or review comparing three-digit numbers at a concrete, representational, or abstract level. That makes it ideal to implement with your resource, intervention, or guided math groups, as well as an independent center.

We might consider sunglasses to be just a summery theme. National Sunglasses Day is even celebrated annually on June 27th. With a tad of research, I discovered it is a day to encourage you to wear your sunglasses all year long! The Vision Council sponsors this day to stress the importance of preventing UV-related eye damage.

Just pointing it out, you can use this resource year-round whenever your students are comparing numbers!

A Tool for Comparing Numbers at the Concrete Level

This three-digit number resource includes a themed comparison mat. Choose a sunglasses number card. Use the mat and base ten blocks to model how to build each number and compare. Let students in a small instructional group each pick a sunglasses number card. Provide the opportunity for guided practice.

Tools for Comparing Numbers at the Representational Level

When students demonstrate understanding at the concrete level, they can draw or color base ten blocks to represent each number. Draw squares, lines, and dots to represent hundreds, tens, and ones. Students who find this difficult can color the blocks.

An Engaging Activity at the Abstract Level

You can use this resource as an independent math center in several ways. For the easiest preparation, give students a set of sunglasses number cards and recording sheets. They simply pick a card and record the answer. Repeat until finished or the allotted time is up.

To increase engagement, set this up as a roam the room activity. Post the sunglasses number cards in various locations (walls, cabinets, bookcases, desks, etc.) around the classroom. Copy a recording sheet for each student. Provide each student with a clipboard. Students match the letter on the card to the letter on their paper to complete the task. 

If you have a class with 18 or fewer students, they can play Scoot with these cards. Find detailed directions from Rhodes University by clicking on the highlighted word.

How to Prepare “Sunsational” Comparisons

• Choose the color or black/ gray/ white option.
• Decide how you will use this resource with your students and the materials needed.
• Print the sunglasses number cards. Use card stock and laminate for durability. Cut as rectangles or sunglasses.
• The comparison mat is on two pages. Print on card stock and laminate. Trim the right side of the first page and the left side of the second page along the background. Then, place the pages face side down so the trimmed edges abut. Tape along the seam. Fold to store. Make one copy for a small group to share or multiple copies for individual students.
• Print copies of the draw and compare and/ or color and compare sheets. These can be laminated or used with dry erase pockets and dry erase markers or crayons to save paper.
• Make one copy of the recording sheet for each student.

Click on the highlighted words to download your free copy of “Sunsational” Comparisons Color Version or “Sunsational” Comparisons Black and White Version.

Be sure to share how you used this idea for comparing numbers in the comments below!

Do your learners need help with using the symbols for comparison? Stories by Storie has a helpful tip. Read a similar post by the Math Coach’s Corner.

Looking for more resources for comparing three-digit numbers?

Head on over to TpT to check out my Rainforest Animals Comparing Three-Digit Numbers Task Card Activity, a recent addition to my Collect Them All series. Try this appealing task card activity with a twist!

Check back soon for more three-digit number resources!

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The post One Free Sensational Way to Compare Numbers appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

Carrots are a perfect springtime theme. They fit as an Easter theme but not overtly so. Crunching on a carrot is a healthy alternative during another sweets-laden holiday. In addition, they fit equally well with a planting or garden theme.

Bunch of Carrots Photo by Fruits+Veggies

A Peek at My Trail of Carrots

• Subtract All or Subtract None Carrot Crunching– Blog Post Freebie, K-2
• Rows of Carrots Ordering Numbers 0-120– TpT Store, K-2
• Carrot Garden Craftivity– Math and Literacy, K-3
• Counting Carrots– A Preschool Busy Bag Activity

Subtract All or Subtract None Carrot Crunching

To begin with, I wrote a blog post about this carrot crunching concrete activity for subtracting all or none of a given number. This is a free hands-on resource that can help you build a foundation of understanding for subtraction concepts or strategies in kindergarten, first or second grades.

It includes a big-mouth rabbit mat, an optional half-page ten frame mat, optional carrot counters, and four sets of 8 task cards, in color and black/ gray/ white. There is also a half-page recording sheet, in two formats. This activity may be used with a whole class or small groups, or as an independent math station.

Rows of Carrots Ordering Numbers 0-120

Next, I forged ahead with creating Rows of Carrots, a carrot themed open-ended resource for sequencing numbers 0-120 in a variety of ways. It can be used for ordering sets of consecutive or non-consecutive numbers and for counting by 10’s, 5’s, 2’s, or any multiple. Go ahead, click a highlighted link to find out more about this kindergarten, first, and second-grade math resource, available for purchase in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

After creating these resources, I was busy pinning carrot-related ideas to my spring and Easter boards. While perusing these ideas, one, in particular, caught my eye.

Now, that’s an idea! Why not combine Stef at Non-Toy Gifts’ craft idea with my Rows of Carrots resource?

So, I kept following the trail of carrots… and started generating ideas for carrot gardens. This carrot garden idea is an engaging way to incorporate skill review with a seasonal craft.

Carrot Garden Ideas

1. Spell short vowel and silent e words (K-1).
2. Write 2, 3, and 4 letter high-frequency words (K-1).
3. Write a sequence of numbers after or before a given one, two, or three-digit number (K-2).
4. Record the equations for an addition/ subtraction or multiplication/ division fact family (1-3).

This is a less crafty version than the one you’ll find at Non-Toy Gifts.

This free resource includes the following pages to print:

• 8 pages of pictures (8 per page) for spelling phonetic words; 25 CVC words, 14 short vowel words with initial or final consonant blends/ digraphs, 20 silent e words
• 2 pages carrots with writing lines (2 sizes)
• 2 pages carrots with equation writing frames; addition/ subtraction and multiplication/ division

Additional materials needed:

• one paper plate (I used decorative 8 3/4″ blue and green plates.)
• brown cardstock (1/2 of 8 1/2 x 11″ sheet)
• brown Easter grass (a 4-ounce bag should be plenty to make 12)
• scissors, glue, crayons (optional)
• 4 glue dots or stapler
• orange and/ or white paper or cardstock

Find all the directions to create these carrot gardens by clicking the highlighted link.

Once I got started, my ideas began growing wildly out of hand! What other ideas could you incorporate?

Carrot Counting

And last but not least, here is the original idea for this blog post!

One of my preschool granddaughters loves busy bag activities! And of course, I enjoy creating these for her. She counts concrete objects to ten and is ready for experiences with number recognition.

I love ten frames and know what a valuable visual tool they are for developing subitizing and a sense of ten. However, just as there is a place for ten frames, I believe we still need to provide a place for less structured counting activities, particularly for younger children.

This free flexible Carrot Counting resource provides the opportunity to experience counting, one-to-one correspondence, cardinality, numeral recognition, and numeral formation. It includes a rabbit mat, carrot counting cards (0-10), numeral formation cards (0-10), and carrot counters. I have included these in both color and black/ gray/ white. The numeral formation cards are only in color and less color.

While I included carrot counters to print, I strongly suggest using concrete objects with preschoolers. I adore my carrot erasers but any small counter will do. Try orange buttons, pom-poms, or gems.

You will need:

• paper or cardstock for printing selected pages of Carrot Counting
• laminator
• dry erase markers, playdough (optional)
• at least 10 counters (You need 55 counters to show quantities 0-10 all at one time.)

To prepare:

• Choose to print Carrot Counting in color or black/ gray/ white.
• Print at least one rabbit mat for each child. You can use one mat and clear it after showing each quantity or use multiple mats, one for each number.
• Print the carrot counting and numeral formation cards. Laminate and cut, trimming around the background.
• If needed, print the carrot counters. Laminate and cut.

To use:

Carrot Counting can be used in several ways.

• Use a rabbit mat with a carrot counting card. Count the carrots. Count a corresponding number of counters to place on the rabbit mat.
• Simply match the carrot counting cards with the numeral formation cards. The numbers have green, yellow, and red dots along with arrows to guide correct formation. They are perfect for finger tracing, using dry erase markers, or play dough ropes. Naming the numeral while engaged in forming it helps to develop recognition.
• Match the carrot counting cards with the numeral formation cards. Count a corresponding number of counters to place on the rabbit mat.

Surely, you have discovered an appealing carrot themed activity!

Looking for more spring or Easter math and literacy resources? Click on a highlighted link to see additional ones available in my TpT store.

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The post 4 Terrific Carrot Themed Math and Literacy Activities appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

While I was browsing in the Target Dollar Spot for nothing, in particular, I spotted bags of rainbow candy cane mini erasers, 60 for one dollar. Wow, what a bargain! I can use those as counters for math. They would be perfect to use with counting grids. I wonder if I can find candy cane clip art in those same colors. Just think, they would be ideal for creating and extending patterns. Wait a minute, why not use actual candy canes to show patterns. Maybe I can find mini ones in the same colors. Oh and don’t forget, mini candy canes for counting cups. Hmmm… why not use them to show teen numbers as ten plus a number.

Photo by Yuliia Mazurkevych

From a bag of mini candy cane erasers to three math freebies for you!

Candy Cane Counting Grids

Counting grids are a great opportunity for preschoolers and kindergarteners to develop and practice subitizing and number recognition skills, along with one-to-one correspondence for counting objects. This easy to prepare partner activity uses dice (1-6) or spinners (1-3) for counting to 20 or 30. The focus can be counting to 3, counting to 6, counting to 20, or counting to 30. Use a die with pips or the spinner with candy canes for subitizing. Try a die or the spinner with numbers for number recognition.

You will need:

• two copies of a counting grid (color or black/ gray/ white, 20 or 30 spaces) for each pair of students (Use cardstock and laminate for durability.)
• one die (pips or numbers) or one spinner (candy canes or numbers) for each pair of students (Print spinners on cardstock, laminate, and cut. Use purchased spinner hands, a pencil and paperclip, or a brad and paperclip to spin.)
• 40 or 60 counters for each pair of students (Use any counter that fits in the space. Try mini-erasers, buttons, pompoms, or gems.)

To play:

• Spin the spinner or roll the die.
• Count and collect the corresponding number of counters.
• Place the counters on your grid starting with the first space.
• Take turns with your partner.
• After every turn or two, ask “How many do you have?” and “Who has the most/ fewest?” Simply omit this step with children who are not ready.
• The activity is over when one student has filled the grid.

These counting grids are included in the Candy Cane Counting freebie available for download in my TpT store.

Candy Cane Number Cards

Use this set of color only round number cards, 1-20, to create counting activities. Simply print, laminate, and cut. Glue dots are perfect to affix the number cards to red or festive treat cups, drinking cups, and plastic or paper plates. Provide a supply of appealing counters such as mini erasers, mini candy canes, round peppermint candies, pompoms, buttons, or candy cane ornaments made with pipe cleaners and pony beads. It’s as easy as that!

And yes, I would teach this as 10 and 5 more, not 5 and 10 more as pictured!

These free number cards are included in this Candy Cane Counting freebie.

Candy Cane Patterns

Who could possibly resist a lesson using colorful, fruity candy canes to teach or review patterns?

These candy cane pattern strips provide an engaging way for your kindergarten, first, or second-grade students to practice or review identifying and extending repeating color patterns. There are pattern strips for AB, AAB, ABB, ABC, AABC, ABBC, and ABCC repeating patterns. There are also strips for AB and ABC growing patterns. All given patterns include the core and then repeat or grow one time. The patterns can be recorded with crayons.

You will need:

• pattern strips (Use cardstock and laminate for durability. Cut into strips.)
• extension strips, tape (Directions are included in the download.)
• purchased mini erasers, buttons, or pompoms in matching colors or
• candy cane pattern cards (Print on cardstock, laminate, and cut.)
• adhesive Velcro squares or circles, optional for using the pattern cards
• recording sheets and crayons, optional

You choose the pattern strips that are most appropriate for your students. You may want multiple copies of the pattern strips and pattern cards, depending on the number of students using them at the same time.

More Ideas for Candy Cane Learning and Fun

• Candy Cane Hide & Seek Game from the Resourceful Mama
• Candy Cane Slime from Pre-K Pages
• Dissolving Candy Canes from Lemon Lime Adventures
• Candy Cane Sight Words from Crayons & Cuties in Kindergarten
• Candy Cane Symmetry from Fantastic Fun and Learning
• Candy Cane Fruit from the Diva Dish

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