Playing Cards

Ok.  I needed a way for us to review the quantities of numbers.  And a way that would kind of force me to be patient while knowing that we were doing something.  And, yet again, a way for Mark to physically do something to represent the number one.  He's not really a visual or aural learner.  So, we are going to make a set of playing cards from foam.

Each playing card is a 4 x 6 foam piece.  I got a pack of them at the Dollar Tree.  And I'll be stopping to get another pack of them, and some more reward stickers, tomorrow.   This is what we make.  (No, I'm not an experienced photographer, not even a good amateur.)

The number 1 written in the top right corner is done by me.  And I gave him dashes to trace in the lower left corner.  This time, I wrote the word one underneath the spot where he put the foam letters.  From the rest of them, he'll use this card as a reference.  Then I had him give me one foam sticker.  And then he put it in place.

So for the next three days, we will do a worksheet or two that focuses solely on the number 1.  And then we'll make another card.  Then we'll do the same for 2.  After we make a set of 2s, we'll spend a few days comparing the two sets, and doing comparison worksheets, before we move on to 3.  We will keep using the Cuisinare rods as well, since he does make a connection with them.  Hopefully, by the time we reach 5 he will start breaking the prompt dependency.  If not we'll keep going on the cards, up through 10, and start on a set of dominoes.  Well, actually we'll do through 10 and make the dominoes anyways.  But if he breaks the dependency we'll start on basic addition for 1 through 5  while we continue with the cards.  If we get through the card set and dominoes and still have prompting issues, we'll starting one a set of memory cards.  At some point, I'm sure Mark will realize what he needs to.  And I'm betting it'll be sometime while we are making dominoes.

All of these items will be used for continuing games and activities.  So he will not only have the fun of creating the items, but will have the fun of continuing to use them.  I hope that will help him to make connections that he does not make with purchased flash cards, dominoes, etc.

By the way, I'm coming to love the Dollar Tree for supplies.  The one closest to my house is so-so about schooling and craft supplies.  But the one further away has an absolutely fabulous selection of items, probably because it's in a bigger market area.  I have managed to pick up quite a collection of tools without assassinating my budget.  We'll be able to make the set of cards, and dominoes, for under $6.  And still have supplies left over for other projects.  It's also where I found blank word strips, which I use to write his vocabulary words from reading.  And then later, I found the printed sight words on word strips, which has helped him to make a connection between the written and printed letters/words.  I would strongly recommend that anyone visit their local Dollar Tree before they go spend a ton of money elsewhere.  You would be very surprised at what's available.  And they have a website if you want to team up with others and do a bulk order.  I'm actually considering doing a bulk order, just for us, on some things.

Anyways, back to life, we've got a reading lesson to do now.  I hope you are having a good day!