Learning Our Numbers - Homemade versus store bought

I just need to put this out there - I am cheap.

I prefer to make my own...everything. We made baby food, games, toys, etc. But there are some things that kids prefer...not homemade.

So, I used popsicle sticks to write the numbers from 1-10 on the bottom. I then lined them up in order, taped them together, and wrote VIOLET across all of them so when the numbers are in the right order, Violet's name is spelled out correctly. She knows her name so I thought this would be a good check for her.

Turns out, popsicle sticks, plain jane bland manila popsicle sticks with some Sharpie on them, are not as cool or engaging as the brightly colored popsicle sticks from Really Good Stuff, which teach the same concept.

Maybe your kids will go for the popsicle sticks. Mine did not. Luckily, I shop clearance and I bought the Really Good Stuff version for like $3. I pulled out the set that counts from 0-10, but I also have sets that spell out the number words, for when Violet is ready for them. All of the sets are color coded on the back, so if we pull out all of the sticks with yellow on the back, they will teach counting 0-10, the purple sticks spell out THREE, and so on.

They're a steal. 

Honestly, shop the Really Good Stuff clearance or outlet shop for your classroom and your kiddos at home. There is SO MUCH. I never pay full price - I just wait for the big sales!

Counting to 10 and Recognizing Numerals

Pictured above is my sweet Violet. I test out a lot of teaching strategies on her. :)

A while back I used popsicle sticks and made her some number puzzles. She was totally not into them. Then I picked up basically the same thing from Really Good Stuff, and BOOM! She loves it. Yes, their popsicle stick puzzles are a little prettier, but basically the same thing. Just counting and recognizing the numbers from 0-10.

Anyway, just a quick PSA that I load up on Really Good Stuff goodies every single summer. Or winter. Basically anytime I get an email about an 80% off sale. Then I scour their website and get tons of class sets of cool journals, folders, file folder games, manipulatives, incentives, everything. I hoard them in my basement and pull them out when I need them. (I'd rather clutter up my basement than my classroom, of course!) But now that I have Violet, I am adding a few more goodies to my cart - anything for my two-year old. My husband tells me that we have enough teaching supplies and games to open a day care when Violet and Braxton are done with them. But they were all on sale!