tips for working on decomposing and composing numbers in kindergarten - Part 2

Decomposing (breaking down) and composing (making) numbers is a multiple part Common Core standard that we work on in Kindergarten. I started out my own exploration with this concept when I shared "why does 10+6=16?," and today I want to give you my tips on ways to work on it during your normal class day. Why is this standard important? Read the last post in this series, Decomposing and Composing Numbers- Part 1.

Now, I know that we often call this "place value" as teachers, but really it is number sense because they truly have to understand what these numbers are in quantity, number form, numeral and in comparison to their surrounding numbers (like where they fall on the one hundreds chart for example). It's all intertwined. No matter what number or skill you're working on - it can be connected to it's value in tens and ones.

Tips for Working on Decomposing and Composing Numbers in Kindergarten

Here are my top ways of integrating decomposing and composing teen numbers 11-19 into your day (and higher numbers):

1. Calendar

Use the repetition that comes during a calendar activity to see it and hear it often. Track the days in school as an example of how to modify a classic calendar activity and then use it to either compose or decompose numbers. You can also use it to figure out how to make 5 and 10.

My students are also working on a variety of composing and decomposing workmats since I change these out every couple of months. They get different kinds of practice that all has a purpose since it comes from the numbers we use in the calendar and they aren't stuck thinking that we can only make or break numbers in one specific way.

Below you see that for a time we were decomposing with words and composing by circling the correct groups of ten and creating the set of ones. Same skill, different format.

2. Games

Finding games to play in small groups, pairs or independently for math centers, stations or zones is crucial. Students often do some of their best work when given the most amount of time to practice. Playing games is one of the best ways to increase the amount of time they are practicing a skill.

Below you can see that we've got our Hurry Up Reindeer Composition game up and ready to be played. Students feed the reindeer glitter ice cubes using tens and ones.

This game is one of my favorites. Playing memory when it is skill specific is a great eye opener. My students work on first finding matches of tens and ones to just the number and are now ready for matching the decomposition equation to the number.

Composing Decomposing Memory

And playing games whenever you can integrate them into your day (computer lab, centers, etc.) is a sure fire way to give them additional practice as long as you can find a skills specific activity like this one below.

Tens and Ones - Online Game

3. Small Group Activities

By far one of my favorite ways to practice since you can work through misconceptions and give students more guided attention. (For example if someone needs practice starting at not 1 when counting, and needs to start at 10.)

Here is an example of when we were learning to create and represent the number in a decomposing statement with words using 10 frame manipulatives.

Decomposing Sheet

When working in small groups, I also try to fit in a warm up or wrap up activity where we get to explore the concept in a different way, like playing I SPY for numbers. As seen below, students find the hidden numbers and then write the decomposed tens and ones equation to match and highlight the number on the hundreds chart.

Place Value Hide and Seek

4. Opportunities to Draw

Students need opportunities to draw out numbers using ten frames and a variety of objects. So give them time to draw in a math journal or during calendar time to express what these numbers look like.

5. Making, Representing and Using Equations

This one seems obvious and it is. Using a variety of tools, let students make equations, draw them out, represent them with objects and also use given equations in order to build their skills is important.

This picture from Mrs. Parker is a great example using our booklet for students to practice using words to make and break teen numbers.

And this is my newest math group recording activity that I am working on with my groups so that they can take the same skill they already have and express it using equations. No matter what range of numbers they have in their comfort zone, they can apply this skill of writing equations with tens and ones.

So there you have it. I find it extremely helpful to incorporate it into calendar time, games, small group work and individual drawing opportunities in addition to finding ways for students to practice making, representing and using equations to show their thinking.

Previous Step: Understanding Composing and Composing Part 1
Next Up: Extending this Standard for Accelerated Students Part 3

More on Decomposing Numbers

How to Teach Counting by Tens, Then Adding Ones
A Sample Decomposing Lesson
Why Does 10+6=16?
Learning Decomposing with Words
Creating Decomposing/Composing Manipulatives

I hope these top tips of mine can help you find ways to incorporate this standard into what you are already doing in your day, just in a variety of ways.

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

Decomposing Numbers - Part 1

Decomposing numbers means to break down numbers into their sub-parts. Common Core standards has kindergarten students decomposing numbers in two ways. The first is to decompose numbers into their tens and ones (focus on numbers 11-19) and the second is to show how any number 1-10 can be created using a variety of addends.

I want to focus with you on the NBT.1 Common Core standard which addresses the tens and ones (or place value  aspect of breaking and creating numbers. Let's look at how it develops and how we can practice and extend it for our kinders. I've got three posts in this series for you!

Part 1 - Understanding Decomposing/Composing Numbers as Teachers

There are two main pieces of this standard:

• The first is using objects and words to show that teen numbers have a group of ten and some ones. 
• The second is expressing this break down using equations.

Why Do We Expect Them to Decompose and Compose Numbers?

{And why do I keep writing about it?}

The simple answer is because there is value in students being able to see the groupings, relationships and patterns in numbers. We are laying the foundation for students to be able to do 53+12 and see that they can manipulate it into making 50+15 or 60+5 or 50+10+3+2 or any other variety of ways to see the quantity as it makes sense to them.

Now that's the bigger picture and carries us into older grade level Common Core standards... so lets bring it back down to our kindergarten level and working with slightly accelerated students.

We are working on understanding that numbers 11-19 have a group of ten and then ones. Students in kindergarten are often excited about bigger numbers and want to explore what those other numbers are, look like and "how big" they are.

Seeing numbers broken down into a pattern of their groupings of tens and then the addition of some ones makes numbers palatable and simple. It gives a "visual" {especially if you are representing with ten frames} to what 6, 16 or 67 really looks like and is.

Visualizing Groupings With Accelerated Students

If you have students with good number sense within 100, then you can deepen their skills by playing games like subtract 10 bump. This roll and cover bump game is perfect for visualizing the groups of ten in a given number and then visualizing one group less. Have a 100's chart handy or some pre-filled ten frame cards as a tool if needed, but my goal is to work on visualizing with these kinders.

{Hit or Miss Subtract 10 Bump}

To play this game, students roll two dice to create a number (11-66). They subtract 10 and then cover that space on the two-page game board. It follows the typical "bump" rules to where players can bump or lock their space. First pirate, I mean player, to lay out all of their cannons (linking cubes) wins.

Next Post in this Series:

My Top Activities/Games for Practicing Decomposing 11-19
(Tips for fitting Composing/Decomposing into your day)

More on Decomposing Numbers

How to Teach Counting by Tens, Then Adding Ones
A Sample Decomposing Lesson
Why Does 10+6=16?
Learning Decomposing with Words
Creating Decomposing/Composing Manipulatives

I hope you can use some of these ideas to better understand decomposing numbers. What's your experience with this standard?

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

how to make teacher planning work for you

Planning is a necessity of being a teacher. Here are some of my teacher organization ideas on how to make planning simplified and share my lesson plan templates.

I once took a personality test that revealed that I have a knack for appreciating organization and for being in charge. On any given day I prefer to be in charge before I prefer to be organized - but if I can be both then I am sitting pretty. {Ha!}

My biggest planning tips boil down to:

• knowing the standards
• knowing where I want to take my kinders next 
• keeping my planning under control

Its my belief that planning should be designed to work for you, not the other way around. If something isn't working for you - change it!

Teacher Planning Binders

Binders really work for me. I like to have categories that are meaningful to me and binders allow me to keep the top categories within reach. I hope with these examples and tips you can find something that works for you. Templates are available for each - click the specific links to read more and find the details.

Teacher Planning Binder Basics

I have a planning binder that holds my main schedule for the week, my general lesson plans with weekly standards and where I write down my to-dos for prep and planning times so I don't forget. I still forget things. I'm human.

It has more categories that keep everything at my fingertips for weekly, quarterly and yearly planning. This is my sanity saver. Meet this binder in more detail.

You've got to love Kristen @Ladybug Teacher Resources binder too. A public shout out to Kristen as she has sent me many new friends from her great all-in-one binder post. {Thanks!}

Guided Reading Planning Binder

The second binder that appeared in my teaching life was my guided reading binder. I first had to create it out of necessity since my principal at the time required specific data on each student and expected it to be turned in regularly. Now, its more flexible and holds what is important to me. I am great at jotting down anecdotal notes and glancing down to see my plan in bullet points when meeting a group.

Currently I have updated my plans to a more general format (as seen above) that includes a space for me to include all of the Common Core standards for our quarter. This saves me from having to re-write them every time. Helpful! Thanks to my favorite teacher down the hall for this tip. Meet my guided reading binder and see my anecdotal doodles.

Guided Math Planning Binder

The thinnest of my binders is my newest planning friend. Since starting small group guided math last year, I needed to carry my plans to where I was working with a group in order to remember exactly what goals I specified for a group of kinders.

Again, I work in bullet points and anecdotal notes. It's what works for me and keeps me on track. Same idea with plugging in my quarterly math standards ahead of time in order to have for reference. See a sample lesson plan that I use following this pattern.

More Planning Binder Tools

Monthly Calendar

Yearly Calendar - My free yearly/monthly 2-page printable calendar is by far the biggest backcasting tool I use to help me plan the big picture, then quarters and then by week. I also write down those meeting dates and scheduled "things" that one {ahem, yes me} might otherwise forget when they are weeks or months out. Its always second in my main planning binder after my weekly plans.

More Calendars - Colorful, free calendars from Amy @The Resource(ful) Room

Weekly To Do List

If my week feels incredibly packed, writing it down helps me feel more in charge and organized {that's me to a T, remember?}. This free two page layout fits well into a binder and lays open flat when needed for an at-a-glance advantage.

Binder Covers

Functionality reigns high on my list of priorities, so I don't use page protectors in my binders if I would have to change them out. I love using erasable divider tabs in order to make my binders easy to change when needed each year. So, needless to say I don't create binder separation/dividers, but I will rock a cute cover for my binders.

More Binder Covers - Subway, Passion, Dot-a-licious, Chevron

More on Teacher Organization

Organizing digital teacher files
Organizing teacher materials for the week and quarter
Organizing room layout and teacher space
Organizing behind my teacher easel
Organizing for a substitute teacher

I hope you can use some of these ideas to make your planning simplified or organized. If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

introducing teach junkie - my alter ego

Readers, allow me to introduce my alter ego. I am taking a leap to broaden what I do in the teaching sphere online and have created a site where we can all work together to put ideas in one place. I am a Teach Junkie.

Introducing Teach Junkie

TeachJunkie.com is a place for anyone to share their ideas, whether they have a blog or not, with the rest of the teaching world. Since the soft launch last week, there are 35 articles and links to over 40 free downloads. Since my comfort zone of teaching is in the primary grades - that has been my main set of contributions - so you my KWorks friends should find some great ideas!

It is set up to be able to hold thousands of ideas and the structure is all in place... so your ideas and your tips will be spotlighted in the category that will bring you the most traffic or recognition. All the teaching world needs now is YOU and your fantastic tips and ideas. It is my goal to give you an audience in exchange for sharing your ideas in a central location. (Of course if you have a blog - you'll share your link back to your blog post and we can finish reading there which brings you traffic)

What kinds of stuff can I find there?

• You'll love the variety of types of posts. There are quick tips.
• There are tutorials which will give step by step directions.
• There are activities which can help you find ideas for your lesson plans.
• There are diy-creative photo reels which are picture collections to inspire you.

How can I find ideas?

You can search by using the menus, search bar or click on the bottom of the articles to find more.

Find out where lots of ideas and tips are located by taking the tour.

How can I share my ideas?

Both bloggers and non-bloggers can join the Teach Junkie community and upload their thoughts and ideas. Any of the four types of ideas goes! So, if you enjoy reading KindergartenWorks and have tried some of our ideas or have your own classroom ideas to share - we'd love to feature you!

Stay tuned for one of our first featured series of articles too that was created just for you. Mrs. McKown from Little Literacy Learners is putting together a series of tips on making RTI happen for the everyday teacher!

What else?

You'll find that I love rounding up teacher ideas and featuring them which makes it easier to find collections of ideas in one place on a topic or theme. For example you'll find these great collections have already begun to pile up {wink}. You'll love the ideas from these fantastic teachers.

3 ELA Beginning Sounds and Blends Worksheets

ELA CVC Games {Free Download}

26 Free Fonts for Teachers

I've been keeping this under wraps since work started in early December and I am so glad {phew - and relieved... I'm not good at keeping things quiet} to finally be able to share it with you! I encourage you to become a subscriber via email to get your free thank you gift (and there's one for being a facebook fan too).

If you have any questions, I'd love to answer them for you. I can't wait to be a couple of teach junkies together!

>> Go to TeachJunkie.com

I hope I'll see you there on a regular basis! If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie 

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

free downloadable gift to facebook fans

I greatly appreciate your friendship and conversation on facebook. So to thank you, I’ve put together a little gift to say just that - thanks! Be sure to head over to our facebook page to click like and grab your thank you gift.

Everyone should get a gift for being a new friend, right? I’m so delighted you decided to join in on the conversation.

If you have any questions or there is something you want me to share from our classroom to yours, be sure to let me know on facebook.  - Leslie

kindergarten word work manipulative ideas

Accomplish kindergarten word work Common Core standards with manipulative learning. Playdough, magnets, and dry erase markers give kindergarten students the repeated practice they need to get proficient at segmenting, blending and substituting sounds at any position in a cvc word. Word work won't feel boring when you use manipulatives, it'll feel more like play.

I do the majority of word work in small groups during our guided reading group instruction so that I can differentiate for the needs of my kinders. We grow from basic phonemes to blends and digraphs to cvc and cvce words. Practice also happens during two specific literacy centers that I have structured in our classroom. Kinders love using playdough in our "word work" center and magnets and velcro letters in our "abc" center. Let me share how I use these 3 tools in my small group instruction with materials I created for the word work center so that students fully understand how to use it before it goes into independent practice.

White boards are a classic choice for me. I will often use small ones to practice sight words or practice handwriting. Using just a board and eraser looses its appeal by January for kinders so there are other options. Bringing in materials that are wipe off surfaces is perfect. There are sleeves designed to slip themed backgrounds into that help the markers keep their appeal.

When working on substituting phonemes in all places (beginning, middle and end) in cvc words, I bring out these cards. They are bound together so everyone gets to work on their own and there is appeal in flipping through like a book. It feels different.

Students can work on blending which helps improve our Dibels scores {let's be real people} and of course improve our overall reading skill set. Plus, working right in front of me shows when students are picking up on key skills we've been working on previously. This group is just on the verge of reading level 5 (D/E) books and here's an indication of that from one student. Not my highest readers but middle of the road for this time of the year.

Wait a minute. Why is she drawing? We discuss what would happen if you chose to put a vowel after a vowel in such a short word. Some choose to experiment with that. She is showing that she recognizes this vowel pattern and that when two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking and says it's own name. We've modeled this during our whole group reading, writing, poetry (word work) time so it is so neat to see when the application stage kicks in.

You can see that she personifies the letters just as I've modeled for the class - one is talking (the eyes and mouth) and the second one is just listening (ears only). Totally a side note, but whenever you can connect patterns to a visual story, students are much more likely to remember it.

What other tools can students use? I highly recommend magnet letters in a variety of fonts and includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase. These make great manipulative tools for working on a multitude of ELA common core standards.

These cards will soon appear in our word work center as we are ready to practice them independently - but we'll use playdough as the manipulative of choice. We started out the year using playdough as our main manipulative in small groups too. My kinders most often call our word work center, the playdough center, but don't let that fool you. If any administrator comes through the door, they can plainly see we're building, manipulating and learning about the way words work.

More on Word Work

Playdough Word Work Center

Developing Phonemic Awareness

Oral Rhyming Hand Motions

Blending Onsets and Rime

I hope you find these manipulative ideas helpful and can try one next week! If you like this post, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly just like this one.

What are your favorite manipulatives to use for word work? - Leslie 

*Free downloadable Thank-You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.