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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The Numbers Game







































Would I be a mega ego-maniac if I said I wanted my grandchildren to think of me every day at school? Yeah, probably. But that doesn't mean it might not happen. Or that it hasn't already happened!

My grandchildren have wonderful parents who offer them many early educational experiences. But mom and dad also value and encourage contributions from invested grandparents. In this area I am more than happy to comply. And sometimes the results do bring good old grandma right into the classroom!

Like when teacher bounced in with a stack of newspaper, bag of flour and a chirpy, "Guess what we're doing today?" My pre-school granddaughter "just knew" it was going to be "a paper mache project - like at grandma's!"

The boys' teachers also didn't need to tell them how to locate the North Star because night hikes with grandma have been the perfect venue to observe and identify it. It's already known, too, that dinosaurs are reptiles who lay eggs because - well, duh! - a bunch of those were dug up right in grandma's backyard last summer! Words ending in "oo?" This one brought laughter at the memory of super-goofy grandma at the zoo - just flappin' her wings and makin' a fool outta herself by pointing at the word everywhere, wondering who could sound out and read it - and then repeat it with a new first letter. Sound effects and theatrical gestures? All included! Zoo. Boo. Moo. Been there, done that! - with grandma! (It's okay. We were out of town. I'll never see those gawkers again - I hope!)

Brielle has been counting to twenty in proper sequence since she was two, but not yet identifying corresponding figures. So, between the two of us, we checked that little item off our list in the space of one week with a "Numbers Game" we both had a part in inventing!

Awhile back I purchased, and squirreled away, a set of dot to dot books for the kids. It was time to bring them out! I love this series because number samples run along the top of the page, making it easy for Bree to match and connect dots to draw cute animal pictures. I was delighted when she asked to bring extra sheets home so she could teach mommy and daddy what she'd learned. They say, you know, the best way to learn anything well is to teach it yourself - and teach it she did! - sitting them down to take turns and search carefully for the correct figures!



The next step was making sugar cookies using the set of plastic number cutters I found at Hobby Lobby for two dollars. This made the game even more fun! Once each number was connected, the corresponding cookie could be gobbled up!

Today I sit here and watch Little Miss Smartie zip through the pages of her 1-10 book, knowing it will soon be time to bring out the 1-20 copy. Bree is full of confidence now, ready for teacher to ask if anyone knows what a "3" looks like. I just hope she doesn't raise her hand and say, "I'll tell you only if you give me a cookie shaped like one!"

17 comments:

  1. She is so stinkin' cute !! I want a cookie now....:)

    Oh, yes, sorry...forgot about YOU for a minute there, being all entranced with your little cutie pie's smiling face! :)

    Well I am glad to hear that I am not the only grandma who is okay with making an a** of herself, lol.....your zoo story reminds me of singing and dancing on the front porch with the twins early fall and someone in a car riding by looking at me as if I was nuts. Well , duh yes I was, ha ha ! :)

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  2. So cute and go Bree!! The boys and I have been working on their K workbooks everyday and every time we come across a new 3 letter word I ask them which other 3 words they can spell and the first one is always ZOO!!! :)

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  3. You are SOOO much like me- I make a game out of everything with our kids. It is so much fun to watch them grow and learn. I have a couple of "super star" kids at school and I know a lot of it is from the games we played. We also do the "word game" in the car while we are driving. We learn one big new word and what it means and how to use it in a sentence whenever we are in the car. A couple of weeks ago ti was inarticulate....and my granddaughter called me from school THE NEXT DAY and said...GUESS WHAT the "special points word" was at the end of my spelling test???Yep- you guessed it- Inarticulate! lol xo Diana

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  4. She gets cuter with every picture and smart, too! i just want to hug her. She reminds me so much of little Amara. And yes, I want a cookie now! You are such a wonderful Grandma.

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  5. You are such a fantastic grandmother. They learn so much from you and have so many enriching experiences. And FUN! Bree is so adorable, she has the sweetest little face.

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  6. Oh what fun - and such cute stories. The last story was especially cute and I had to chuckle about getting a cookie for telling the teacher what a 3 looks like.

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  7. I love your method of learning. I used to buy some blocks like games for my kid for learning. The way you make them in cookies is excellent!

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  8. I may have to look for numbered cookie cutters now. You are invited to share this with Show Your Stuff:
    http://www.treasuresmadefromyarn.com/2014/03/show-your-stuff_13.html

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  9. You are very loving towards your adorable grand daughter bree...Thanks for sharing your experience with 4 seasons blog hop. Cheers and have a nice day..

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  10. Raising children today is so much harder because all to often Grandma is miles away.

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  11. I love every minute of this - let me "count" the ways ;-). What a fun grandma you are and it's so nice that you make math so creative. Stopping in today from Grandma's Briefs Grand Social. Always so much fun.

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  12. Oh my gosh - what a fabulous post! ha ha That little Bree is just the cutest thing ever! What fabulous fun memories you're making during all that learning! I'm glad you enjoyed my heated birdbath post. It's still going strong as the temps have still been in the 30's lately - but with mid 50's due in a few days! Can't wait!

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  13. Bree is so cute and it is you who encourage them with craft. Love how you are learning them with cookie numbers.They must think it is yum.

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  14. I love reading about whatever you and that sweet Bree are up to but especially enjoyed the numbers game. Let's face it, a girl has to know how to calculate what her craft supplies and fabric will cost when they are on sale and she has a coupon. :-)

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  15. Ah, she is adorable & what fun learning. The grand kids must have a blast with you! Thanks for sharing at the party! Hope to see you again soon! Theresa @DearCreatives

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  16. You are a great teacher for your grandkids! As a special ed teacher, I feel that kids learn and remember things much better when it is made into an activity that is fun and meaningful for them... like a game, an adventure, or, best of all, cookies!

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