I made our first table signs switch this week! A few years back I was trying to come up with ways to give my kids that repetitive review they need with some things, without feeling like I was beating a dead horse. I realized that table signs offer a great opportunity for this! I call tables MANY times each day for various things, and the signs are visual stimuli that literally hang their all day, every day.
I do still start the year with tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (with corresponding objects). We are working on these single digit numbers for a while in kindergarten. However, if I am being honest, the numbers that cause the little ones the most trouble are those tricky teens (and 11 and 12). Since we have begun working on the teens, I decided to change the table signs. We now have tables 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16! The kids were very excited about the change, and the review is happening effortlessly!
I did put up corresponding images as well, although I wish in retrospect that I had used a ten frame format as opposed to a random clump. Oh well, a project for another day!
How do you work on the tricky teens with your students?
I love the idea of using teen numbers and ten frames for tables! When teaching teen numbers, i put a number one on the smartboard. They kids all say it’s number one and we talk about him for a minute, then i get a trench coat, baseball cap, sunglasses, etc. and put them on the number one. We talk about how it looks like it’s hiding or is dressed up. I tell them when he is wearing that outfit he doesn’t want anyone to know who it is – it’s TOP SECRET! So when he’s in front of another number (most of the time) he wants us to call him “Teen”. I tell him he’s always trying to trick up and call him one, but don’t tel him trick you! And of course they all swear up and down that he will never trick them…… It really works with some kids!
What a fantastic idea! Even with LOTS of practice, my kids still tend to struggle with the teens. Maybe I will give the top secret idea a try. I have heard something similar regarding the silent e (secret agent e). I am sure my kids would get totally into it!
Hi Teaching Ace,
Are selling the table signs. If you are I would like a copy, please.
That is a wonderful idea to use especially when working with those tricky teen numbers.