You’d think it would be easy peasy after your students learn to identify the numerals 0 to 10.

But then, along come the tricky teens, particularly eleven, twelve, thirteen, and fifteen. And quickly following on their heels some thorny tens, mainly twenty, thirty, and fifty.

What Makes Identifying These Numerals So Confusing?

Well surprisingly, it seems to be the irregularities of the English language!

It starts with the teen number words. Instead of saying one ten, we say teen.

Eleven and twelve don’t even include the syllable teen even though they represent one ten and some more.

For the teens, we say number words that reverse the order of the digits we see. We don’t say ten four when we see 14, we say fourteen.

In place of three-teen and five-teen, we have thirteen and fifteen.

Moving to the twenties and beyond…

Now, at least, the order of the number words we say matches the place of the digits we see (forty-two and 42). Ten is now represented with the suffix -ty. In place of four tens, we say forty. That’s easy enough!

But then (you know there’s got to be a but), two tens becomes twenty.

At least thirteen, thirty, and third are consistent as are fifteen, fifty, and fifth. But goodness gracious, twelve, and twenty are only left with the “tw” in common. And the word second will leave you scratching your head.

Ways to Help Students Connect Numerals to Number Words

Make explicit language connections. Your students need to know that teen and -ty mean the same as ten.

Play with the language.

Two tens ought to be two-ty. But oh, no it’s not. It’s twenty.

Three tens ought to be three-ty. But oh no it’s not. It’s thirty.

Five tens ought to be five-ty. But oh no it’s not. It’s fifty.

(I couldn’t find one but surely there’s a teacher who has created a catchy poem or song for this!)

Demonstrate the consistent visual patterns of numerals. The pattern of increasing tens and ones can best be illustrated with a vertical number line. I had one with 0 to 100, floor to ceiling, on a classroom wall.

The photo only shows vertical number lines to 12 or 20. They were all I had handy. I also used them for teaching addition and subtraction strategies.

Provide plenty of opportunities for your students to count and group objects beyond ten. Be explicit. Show the relationships between the objects we count to the words we say to the numerals we write.

Check out my free treasure report recording sheets and this blog post about place value, for ideas. Be sure to count and group objects by tens before moving on to tens and ones.

After all the concept development, your students will be ready for this spring-themed resource with numbers in the twenties and thirties. Try it with small groups of 2 to 4 students. (You can adapt it for a single student or a large group.)

Use this activity for morning work, in a math center, or with your small instructional groups.

Get “Flowers in Bloom For Numerals 20-39” Prepared

There are 4 different activity mats. Each mat has a garden with 10 tulips. Each tulip has a numeral (20-39) on it.

There are 18 cards with the numbers 20-39 represented by wormy ten frames and extra ones.

YOU WILL NEED:

• One copy of the activity mat for each participating student
• One or more sets of the cards
• Crayons or counters

Choose color or black/ white. Print the black/ white mats on paper to use with crayons.

The color or black/ white mats can be printed on card stock and laminated for reuse. Use counters to cover. Try erasers, buttons, gems, or any one-inch or so counters that you have handy.

You can also use one and two-inch-sized Measuring Worms^TM.

Print the cards on card stock and laminate for durability. Prepare one or two sets for 2 students and two sets for 3 to 4 students. Cut out the cards.

Get “Em” Engaged With “Flowers in Bloom”

Shuffle the cards. Place them in a stack, a messy pile, or a decorative container. A flower pot fits perfectly with the theme!

STUDENTS WILL:

• Draw a card.
• Determine the number. Say the number word.
• Look for the corresponding numeral on their mat.
• If the numeral is on the mat, color or place a counter on that tulip.
• If the numeral is already colored or covered, you lose your turn.
• Discard your card.
• Take turns.
• Reshuffle the discarded cards, as needed.

Who can be the first one to color or cover all your tulips?

Click on the highlighted words to download your free copy of Flowers in Bloom for Numerals 20-39.

Do you have any helpful ideas for teaching these thorny tens? Be sure to share in the comments below!

LOOKING FOR MORE RESOURCES…

If you’re teaching about gardens and plants, you’re going to want…

Oreo Dirt Cups Recipe (Modern Meal Makeover)

Books About Worms (Growing Book By Book)

Books About Seeds (Gift of Curiosity)

Paper Plate & Paint Splat Tulip (Glued To My Crafts)

Plastic Cup Greenhouses (Mama.Papa.Bubba.)

Seed Experiments (Gift of Curiosity) (Scroll down in this post to click on more seed experiments.)

Be sure to check out all my resources for kindergarten and first grade in my TpT store!

Photo in title image by Cherkas Photography.

The post How to Make Important Connections Between Numerals and Number Words appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

If so, this free and versatile Roll-a-Rabbit activity can help you meet their needs as you hop along into spring. What kindergarten, first, or second-grade student will be able to resist rolling a die and coloring this adorable rabbit!

What makes this resource for practicing the addition facts so versatile?

For starters, you can select just the addition facts to match the strategies you have taught your students. Once you’ve covered the Add 0 and Count Up/ On strategies, you should have enough fact cards to start rolling!

Are you still working on concept development? Then, give your students counters to show the facts.

Use the 72 addition fact cards with your favorite activities and games. Likewise, substitute any set of flashcards (letters, numbers, words, etc.) for the addition fact cards. The possibilities are limitless!

Make this activity one of your math stations or try it as part of your small group instruction. You’ll find it’s perfect for partners or a small group.

Materials Needed

• one black/ white direction card for each small group of students
• a half-page or full-page black/ white rabbit for each student to color
• one set of basic addition fact cards (color or black/ white) for each small group
• a die for each small group
• crayons

Get It Ready

Print the direction and basic addition fact cards. For durability, use card stock and laminate.

There are two sets of directions on a page. Cut the page in half. For the fact cards, trim around the outer edges. Then, cut into cards.

Make copies of a rabbit for each student.

Get ‘Em Engaged

Stack the addition fact cards or place them in an appealing container.

Draw a card. Add the fact. If you add correctly, roll the die.

Look at the direction card. Find the number you rolled. Color the corresponding part of your rabbit.

If you already colored that part of your rabbit, you lose your turn. Color only one ear, arm, or leg per roll.

Take turns. Shuffle the cards to reuse, as needed. Who can be the first to finish coloring their rabbit?

Decide ahead of time if students lose their turn if they add a fact incorrectly or draw another card. They can also continue drawing cards and adding facts until everyone’s rabbit is colored.

Click on the highlighted words, Roll-a-Rabbit Addition Facts, to download this free resource. I’d love to hear, in the comments below, how you use this activity.

Looking For More Resources to Teach Addition Facts?

Click on the links below to discover additional ideas and resources, And yes, you’ll find some freebies!

• Addition Fact Resources available in my TpT store
• Why Teaching Addition Fact Strategies is Important
• How to Transition From Counting All to Counting On
• How to Double the Fun With Gingerbread Addition
• A Fun and Easy Way to Remember the Make Ten Facts
• 2 Helpful Ways for Teaching How to Add 9
• How to Easily Teach the Add 8 Rule
• What is the Best Way to Teach Monkey in the Middle?
• Toss It! How to Actively Engage Your Students

Looking For More Spring-Themed Resources?

Check out my newly updated open-ended product, Rows of Carrots, for sequencing numbers 0-120 in various ways. Provide individualized practice and review for your kindergarten, first, and second-grade math students with this flexible, spring-themed resource.

Use it for ordering sets of 5 consecutive or non-consecutive numbers and for counting by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s, or any multiple.

This resource also has a second set of ready to use, easy prep black/ white carrots with a variety of sequences, mixed-up within each set of five numbers (consecutive numbers 0-10, 0-20, within a decade 21-120, across a decade 21-120; and non-consecutive numbers 0-10, 11-20, 0-20, within a decade 21-120, and 11-120). This set is ideal for a color, cut, and glue activity.

Find 4 Terrific Carrot Themed Math and Literacy Activities in this blog post. Stop by my Teachers Pay Teachers store to see all my spring and Easter resources.

Keep on hopping! June will be here soon!

Photo in title image by Speaking of Images.

The post 1 Irresistible Way to Boost Mastery of the Addition Facts appeared first on Just Ask Judy.