Number Words

One of the things I have noticed over the last few years working with my boys on both phonics and math is that number words are hard!

number wordsIt goes a little like this:

Me:   This is the word “ONE”.

Child:   But shouldn’t it start with a “W”?

Yes, that would make more sense, but it starts with a “O”.   This is the word “TWO”.

Why is the “W” there?   Can’t we just use that “W” in “One”?

I give up!   It doesn’t make sense and don’t even get me started on the spelling of “FOUR”!

This year I again have a Kindergartner, so I decided to add a daily activity to our Math Meeting to overcome the number word challenge.

number words - math meeting for KindergartenTeaching Children Numbers

  1. I started by creating a word document with large type with numbers listed on the left and then with the same size font spelled out the number words.
  2. Then I printed them out and pasted the numbers onto left-over scrapbook paper and cut the number words into slips of paper.
  3. I then laminated both the number board and the number word cards.
  4. Then Velcro was attached to the back of the word cards.

number words worksheetIf I had to do it over again, I would not laminate it because then the Velcro doesn’t stick well and we ended up using the sticky portion of the Velcro, not the Velcro-y portion which just seems like a waste of perfectly good Velcro.

I love that Rhett(5) can do this activity by himself.   He works on it for awhile and may have a question or two, but likes to figure it out on his own.   This is a big step since he hasn’t gotten the hang of sounding words out yet so he is using a mixture of first letter sounds and sight word recognition.

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We’ll get there.   One day, till then, we are enjoying out homemade DIY learning resources.

15 Comments

  1. Great idea! I also like those little clippies you have to organize everything on a rod. Thanks for sharing!

  2. How fun! Like the Idea of laminating the numbers! Have to make a laminated number chart for my daughter!

  3. I love this idea! I found you over on the Mommy Club blog hop and I am glad I did! Your blog is great!
    As a newer blogger it is always fun to come accross great sites like yours. 🙂

  4. What a great idea! Putting this on my Pinterest!

  5. I love this! I’m definitely bookmarking your blog! BTW, found you from Skip To My Lou-Made By You Monday! Thanks for sharing!

  6. English is my second language, so teaching my daughter to read was quite the adventure. The “why” question came up a lot 🙂

  7. Just a thought….instead of using velcro, you could still laminate, but use the magnetic tape. Then it might not peel off as easily & your paper might last longer. Don’t know how well it would work in PRACTICE, but in theory, it seems good. I used that magnetic tape & the sticky magnets all the time when the kids were younger. Once they’re in high school it’s just embarrassing. Allegedly.

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