good thing (even if all they are picking up on at this stage is initial sounds). 

Each number has a red dot to support correct numeral formation. I always teach my classes to roll out playdough 'snakes' to make each number. The red dot is where the end of the 'snake' should be placed before they start shaping the 'snake' into the correct number. Have them begin as you mean them to go on!

There are 2 red dots on the number '4', to remind the children that they will need 2 playdough 'snakes' to make this number (just like they'll need to lift their pencil to finish making a '4' when they start to write their numbers). 

There are 2 different versions of the '1' and '10' mats - one gets children to just make a straight line down, while the other gets them to make the short 'up' mark before completing the '1' with a straight line down. I always teach the straight line down, but I know that different schools (and teachers) do things differently, so the 2 options are both included. 
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Click on the picture above to get these mats for your own class. Hope your kiddos love them and they make your teaching life a bit easier. 

​I also hope your school year has started well! 

Many teachers are already back to school, with the rest of us soon to follow. I'm re-posting this updated (free) 'Count the Days in School' pack. If there is only one new math routine you add into your K-2 school day, this should definitely be it. 

Why? Let me count the ways! 
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- It only takes 1-2 minutes each morning. Very quick, very easy, very effective!
- Children love it (you must find a way to keep track of who has already had a turn to add the sticker to a 10 frame or you will have arguments on your hands).
- It provides a visual representation that children are directed to each morning of both number amounts (how big a number is) and place value information (tens/units, but also hundreds if you continue to count past 100 days, which I highly recommend). 
- It provides an easy way into early years Number Talks, while also providing that important visual representation that helps kids to really 'get' numbers, how they are constructed and how they can be partitioned. 

I've updated this pack to make it slightly easier to print and cut out. I've also included 3 pages of Number Talk ideas for the 3 different stages (K-2 / P1-3 / Reception-Year 2).

The main title for this display is 'We are counting the days in school'. In this pack, however, I've also included 4 additional titles that allow you to count: 
1) Days in the School Week
2) Days until Christmas
3) Days until Spring Break
4) Days until Summer

I know that there are some settings where counting smaller amounts (or more repetition of early counting skills) is important, so hopefully these additional sign options will help more people incorporate this routine into their classes in a way that is meaningful for their own pupils.

Welcome Back to School!