I received a letter from a reader this week that told me she was so intimidated by the thought of differentiating that it has completely paralyzed her from doing anything to get started. I get so bummed when I hear that, because I just know how great students respond when they are all working at their own level of readiness and are interested and engaged in learning. It compelled me to sit down and create a holiday ‘gift’ for my readers that would be a hassle free way to get at least one activity under your belt just to see how great differentiating can be.
Here’s the scenario. I have a small group of students that are still struggling to identify and represent teen numbers. I have another small group that can identify and represent but are struggling with before and after numbers (which are crucial when we start +1 and -1 activities. Then I have a good number of students that are ready for decomposing teen numbers and yet another slightly smaller group that have master decomposing but need another challenge to keep them engaged.
The question remains . . . how can I have one activity that meets all their needs . . .
Here it is. I Spy Santa Searching for Teen Numbers . . . There is one playing mat available in color
or black/white for my color printing challenged friends. On these mats there are 10 numbers hidden. Students use their magnifying glasses to search the picture and find the numbers.
When they find them, they record the number in the box on their recording sheets and finish the problem.
One sheet ask for the students to write the number and represent it in a ten frame.
On sheet asks for students to write the number and tell what comes before and after.
Another sheet asks students to decompose the number by telling what added to 10 equals the number.
And a final sheet requests students to add 10 to their number (my high flier students enjoy this challenge, and I always offer them a 100s chart if they need to check their answer. They’ve become quite good at maneuvering their way around the 100s chart).
One activity 4 levels of response. Your high fliers aren’t doing MORE work and your students who struggle aren’t getting LESS work. Everyone is getting work that is challenging to them.
Everyone gets to enjoy the same, fun activity. It’s a win for the kids and a win for you . . . (and a win for you when your administrator comes in and asks how you’re differentiating the week before the holidays). Just click on the picture below and you can download this freebie from my Google Drive . . . easy, peasy.
I hope you enjoy this freebie. And if you are looking for other differentiated activities like this one for your classroom, please feel free to browse my blog store or TpT store.
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Thank you for this freebie! It is perfect for my sub next Friday. I LOVE all the options! Amber ~ Kindergarten Rocks Blog
Thanks Amber. Hope your kids love it.
Marsha
Thank you so much for another great freebie!! This is so perfect!! How do you think of all these things—you must be a genius!!
Michelle
http://www.mrsscotese.blogspot.com
Definitely NOT a genius. I did have some help from a reader who was looking for some Teen Work with an I-spy inspiration.
Marsha
Thanks for the great freebie! Especially when things are crazing around the holidays, I like to have activities like this ready to go because they are still learning while having a lot of fun!
Blessings,
Sarah
smbhankinson@gmail.com
Learning is for Superstars
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You are so welcome.
Enjoy
Marsha
This is perfect for differentiating in my classroom. Thank you for sharing. Do you have a Christmas I Spy for reading/letters/sounds?
Yes! It’s actually a gingerbread theme.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ginger-I-Spy-Letters-and-Sounds-Differentiated-and-Aligned-to-Common-Core-417634
Marsha
This is so wonderful!! I wrote to you on TPT asking for a Christmas “I Spy” and this goes far beyond my expectations! The kids will go through the roof!! They like to work up each of the levels as they can’t get enough of those magnifying glasses :). You are an amazing teacher and great example. Thanks for your generosity! I bought the snowman addition/subtraction I Spy that you suggested but am saving it for Jan. now I have this one!
Thanks for your inspiration and the idea to do teens. Between your request and the letter I got this week from a teacher who didn’t know where to start differentiating…I was able to come up with this. It was definitely a team effort.
Marsha
Oh my goodness! I love I spy things for the kinders. I have a huge collection of really fun magnifying lens for them to use each season. Thank you so very much!
You are so welcome.
Marsha
thank you!!! love these activities :o)
You are so good to us. Thanks for all you share, freebies and ideas!
Do you have this as a non teen version? (Numbers to 10)? I have one group (about 6-8 kids) in my am and pm class who still don’t know all numbers 0-10 solidly. *sigh*
Marsha…are all your kinders solid in 1-10? I have some really hard/low/behavior ridden classes this year, so I’m feeling super behind! Just curious what sort of population you teach…I have about 50/70% ELL qualified
And this reply box keeps bugging on me and cutting off my reply. Just curious and maybe looking for a little reassurance that its lot just my kiddos who are behind 😀
Thank you so much!! This is so awesome and we can’t wait to use it in our classroom! We just found your blog and we are happy we did. We can’t wait to read more about what you are doing. Thanks again!
Kelly and Kim’s Kindergarten Kreations
Marsha, You have such a knack for creating things that are easily differentiated, but not just handing out worksheets. It’s a gift that you are blessed with and have cultivated because you have such a desire to meet the needs of your students just where they are. Your blogs about the activities that you differentiate inspire me so much. Thanks yet again for your generosity. These arrived just in time for me to begin teen numbers tomorrow.
Awww what a nice note to find. I’m glad that your students can use and enjoy this.
Marsha
Wonderful! Thank you. We have some kindergartners who are unable to count past 3 even though they count everyday in their class, and some not know many numbers past 10.
Love this. I was curious. How do your students know which one they are supposed to do if these are out for a center time type activity? I love how you explained how you differentiated one simple activity.
Cathy I.
mrsirwinsclass@gmail.com
My students have their names written on colored tags for literacy (Daily 6 ) stations. When they go to a station, they will find a poly envelope with their coordinating color. Those are the recording sheets they use.
Marsha
Awesome!! Thank you. My kiddos will love this.
thank you sooooo much!
Just what my class needs to finish December off! This will be the perfect activity for the students while I finish up assessments for report cards!
Thanks Marsha!
Thank you so much! I love all of your products!