Number Bonds in kindergarten

 When I first saw number bonds floating around the internet, I did not give them much thought or even a second glance. Firstly, they weren't much to look at. Secondly, I did not understand the value of using them.  It was only after I attended the Conference on Common Core Standards, did I learn that these can be an important tool for student learning.

When using number bonds, it is recommended that you use these three forms of instruction to increase students conceptual knowledge of the concept. These are shown below:

I used number bonds in my classroom to show students the relationship of a part and a part making a whole as in addition. When students are ready, you can vary your activities so that students have a whole and one part requiring them to find a missing part.

Here is an introductory video I used in my class before we practiced as a class.

 

Notice that the teacher uses kid friendly language in the introduction, "3 and 5 make 8."  Later, you can teach students this as a number sentence, "3+5=8." This is so you are moving gradually to the abstract increasing student understanding.

When using number bond work mats, the orientation does not matter.  Most importantly, students need to understand the part, part to whole relationship. Therefore you should vary the orientation of your work mats so students understand that this does not change the relationship.  See examples below.

Heart Number Bond Work Mat 1
I made these prettier number bond work mats.
Feel free to use any of these you would like!

Heart Number Bond Work Mat 2

Heart Number Bond Work Mat 3

Heart Number Bond Work Mat 4

Flower Number Bond Work Mat
Can be used in any orientation!

or use

Can be used in any orientation!
Plain Circle Number Bond
To create a work mat like the example, print two copies of the number bonds on two different colored pieces of card stock.  Glue to a 12 x 18 sheet of construction paper and laminate.

You can duplicate these number bond cards and place them in a center.  Student will the use manipulatives to match the card and draw a picture to match the card.  You can differentiate the activity by adding a step.   Students who are ready, can write number sentences using the number bonds.

Free Number Bond Cards

(Free) Worksheet + Workin' on It Wednesday

A double link up today!  I am joining the Teaching Tribune's "Worksheet Wednesday" as well as the 

Kindergal's "Workin' on it Wednesday!"

Your free worksheet this Wednesday is an envelope sort inspired by my newly finished product. 

Product is available for $1.68.  If you click on the image above, it will take you to the product on TPT.

Now on with the freebie!

Link is below.

However, since I have been "workin' on it" all week!
Here are some examples. 

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Printable Version of these Directions
(If  you need them.)

Worksheet Wednesday Freebie  


Return to the "Worksheet Wednesday" at the Teaching Tribune!

Return to "Workin' on it Wednesday" with the Kindergals!

Monday Meet Up With The Teaching Tribune

Just for fun, I am linking up with the teaching tribune for "Meet me Monday." This week the focus is to talk about things that you are thankful for! 

You probably did not know that I am half Puerto Rican and the entire half is in my hair!!! I am thankful for my flat iron because it has saved me from having to always wear my hair extra frizzy curly!!!!

I have admired this lady ever since I was 11 years old. That was the time I discovered her! Unfortunately, I missed all of her early career.  Happily, I have been able to get caught up through YouTube.  

This video makes me laugh!

  I realize that even mega-superstars have an awkward phase!!! 

   

Thank you to all the people who have posted Olivia videos. I could go on about my favorite singer, but covering a career that spans decades would take a lot of time.  Gratefully, Olivia has always inspired me and that takes me to number 3...

I love to karaoke livvy's old country and folk songs.  The ones that I missed in my childhood or missed because I did not exist!  I have had a karaoke machine in my life since I was 18.  I find singing is fun, stress relieving, and makes me feel like the superstar of the living room!  Thankfully, I never get flack for my hours of karaoke! My husband just retreats to the man cave.  He tells me I have a great singing voice, but does not enjoy my choice of songs.  He would surely never lie to me about my singing.

Return to the "Teaching Tribune" to read more great posts!

Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins (K.CC.B.4)

I'm linking up with Deanna Jump's "Lets Talk About Books" linky!

This book was found at a used book store down in Long Beach.  It is great for reinforcing numbers 0-10, for introducing the concept of subtraction or one less.  It can also be used to teach animal sounds.  It would be perfect if you are doing an apple themed or farm unit!

The book begins with 10 apples on a tree. The tree progressively loses one apple as different animals eat one.  The farmer wants to have some apples saved for him.

 The pattern of the book continues down to zero...

...until they find another apple tree.

Here are some fall themed number flip books that I never got around to posting last year and would go well with this book... 

numbers 6-9 apple themed

numbers 2-5 fall themed

You get these free by clicking the link below.

Fall Number Review Flip Books

Kindergarten Writing Sight Word Booklet Freebie and something FUN!!

Okay fun first!!

This is a quick Easter project that is perfect for the Friday before the holiday.  It can be done in one period and taken home immediately. If you are looking for something quick and easy this is for you!

Chick Project

Bunny Project

For the past several months, my class has been working on writing sentences independently.  This was a progression as many came in knowing only how to write their name and others were not even able to form letters!!

In the very beginning, we simply worked on properly forming letters.  The next stage consisted of copying a sentence, followed by writing sentences from thinking maps. All the while, we worked on interactive writing to model some of the writing processes, such as use of finger spaces, capitals, punctuation and the return sweep etc.

My final step was to model writing a sentence independently.  We did this several times over a course of several weeks.  While I knew some students would have been able to do this task very easily, the majority needed more support.  My procedure involved taking a student suggested sentence and walking the class through my thinking. For example, if a student suggested, "I like to play outside," I would demonstrate that the first four words were on our sight word list and all was needed was to copy these.  The final word "outside" would need to be sounded out slowly and the sounds that were heard written down.  I did not necessarily spell these words correctly. I elicited answers from the children. I wanted to teach students that they would get closer to the correct spelling as they practiced and I wrote the conventional spelling underneath our attempt so they would be used to seeing this. 

The very first time we tried this independently, I had to stop children from copying each other.  So many were very hesitant to attempt this themselves.  Some how I managed to get most to try this independently, but it was not easy. I had to insist and did not accept a paper copied from a neighbor. I wanted each student to use their own mind and skills.  I also ran into some trouble as students could not remember how to spell the needed sight words. Several children wanted to take a walk over the pocket chart where these are kept. And of course, they all needed the same words!(They don't call them high frequency for nothing!)  It was then that I knew I needed to create a booklet containing their sight words. Individual books were really helpful as we learned through the vision and hearing screening that several students have vision problems and a word wall would not be ideal. Besides, who has the wall space? 

Students keep these booklets at their table and use them on writing days.

I am posting this here if you might be interested in using it. Click on the image to download. 

As we continued our writing over the course of the next few weeks, I found that some of the more able student were telling other students they were "doing it wrong." This when when I pulled out Heidi's developmental stages of writing and attached a copy to each child's work.  Each child could see that there are many ways to write nobody so can be "wrong." (This was also a great way for parents to see where their child was on the spectrum.) If you haven't grabbed this already, you should visit her site and snag a copy. 

Heidi's Writing Rubric

Enjoy watching your class learn to express themselves through their writing.  

Word Problems in Kindergarten

  Happy Spring! 

My class and I have been taking on a more challenging form of word problem for subtraction.  Not only do we use the "some went away" format, but we are also studying missing part word problems. 

One of the presenters of the January Common Core conference, mentioned that we may fall short if we only teach kids subtraction in the manner where something goes away.  With the new testing for common core on the horizon, we know students will be required to solve more math word problems.  It's not just computation anymore!!

So I stepped up our game plan!
 Watch this video of the children solving these word problems!
Don't see it...click here to see it on SchoolTube.

I was delighted to discover that if I used number frames, almost all the children could be successful in solving these types of problems. I was also exciting to hear the language of the word problems being used in the explanations!!!

Click here if you would like to try this yourself with an Earth Day themed math reader.
Recycling Word Problem Reader

Fiction and Nonfiction Sort (Five for Fri.)

I worked with guided reading groups on this skill.  We reviewed the differences between nonfiction and fiction. Then we sorted our reading books under each heading.  These were very quickly handwritten on whiteboards. But I have since made nicer posters to laminate and use for future groups.  Keep on reading!

Click each image for a copy.

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Had to say goodbye to this display this week to make room for new projects... Sad to see it go.  I really like the way it turned out.

I'll also have to take down these adorable writing assignments about the presidents as well.

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Trying desperately to get students to learn these words fluently. We played this bean bag game to trick them into studying!  We said each word we were trying to hit and pointed to the word many times. Then I  changed  up the game by allowing students throw the bean bag to the word of their choice- under the condition that they read it to me.

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I did the same activity twice this week. I gave students manipulatives and put addition or subtraction on the board.  I want these children to become proficient with the two skills.  The first time it did not go so well.  I used linking cubes. Then I came back the next day with this.

After reading the book and listening to the CD. We were all really excited to try addition and subtraction again using groovy buttons! The motivation and success was tremendous!! I could not believe the difference!!

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I am sure you are hitting word families hard and heavy!! My class really enjoys making the words with the cut out letters.

I am posting " ig" cut out letters here if you would like to use it.

The week of St. Patrick's Day we will working on "ug."

So we will be making another headband out of this:

Yours for the taking...

"ug" headband