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How To Help Children Who Struggle With Reading: It All Starts With Sound

6/15/2025

 
Some children arrive in the classroom already aware of how sounds work in words. Others need more time — and that’s okay. If you’ve taught primary, you know firsthand how wide the range can be when it comes to early literacy skills.

I've been working this year with small groups and one on one with some students in Grade 1 and 2 who are still trying to put it all together. 
The key to helping them move forward was recognizing that they needed to work on phonemic awareness and phonics: two separate (but deeply connected) skills.​
It all starts with sound

It All Starts With Sound — Why Phonemic Awareness Is Still the Foundation

If you’ve ever sat beside a young student who’s trying to read but just keeps guessing or skipping words, you’ve probably asked yourself: “Where did this break down?” ​Even with the best reading programs and phonics lessons, some kids still struggle—and it’s usually because something’s missing at the very beginning: phonemic awareness.
If students can’t hear and play with the sounds in words, then decoding them with letters won’t stick. That’s why even in the early grades, we need to keep revisiting those foundational skills like:
  • Rhyming
  • Isolating beginning and ending sounds
  • Blending and segmenting spoken words
  • Manipulating sounds in fun, hands-on ways
💡 Try this tip: Before moving into written word work, play a quick “sound stretch” game with students. Say the word bat and have them stretch it out: /b/… /a/… /t/. Then ask, “What word did we just build?”
Phonemic awareness is all about sounds. Can a child hear and manipulate the individual sounds in words?
  • Can they isolate the beginning sound in "mat"?
  • Can they blend /s/ /a/ /t/ to say "sat"?
  • Can they swap the /b/ in "bat" for /h/ to make "hat"?
sounds and letters

 What’s the Difference Between Phonemic Awareness and Phonics?

It’s easy to use these terms interchangeably, but they aren’t the same:
  • Phonemic Awareness is all about sounds—spoken words. It includes skills like rhyming, identifying beginning sounds, blending and segmenting spoken words, and manipulating sounds.
  • Phonics is where sounds meet print—linking letters and letter patterns to those sounds.
Phonics is about connecting those sounds to print. Once a child can hear and work with sounds, we help them attach letters to each one: /m/ = m, /a/ = a, /t/ = t.
When a child is struggling with reading simple words, it often helps to pause and ask: do they really have the sound skills yet? We can teach all the phonics we want, but if the ears haven’t caught up to the eyes, reading becomes guesswork.
Many struggling readers are missing that foundational ability to hear and work with sounds before trying to decode printed words. If we skip this step, phonics instruction feels like a foreign language.
Phonemica awareness and phonics

Try This Activity: Sound Boxes With No Letters

Before you even bring out the flashcards or worksheets, give students 3-part sound boxes and say a word like “map.”
Have them push a counter into each box as they say: /m/ – /a/ – /p/. Then ask:
“Can you stretch it out again? Now say it fast: map.”
You’re strengthening the idea that words are made of sounds—something many kids don’t naturally pick up without explicit practice.

Here are some easy activities to try

  1. Sound Match Cards: Use picture cards (no words) to play a game where students match items with the same beginning sound. Cat and cup? Yes. Cat and sun? Not yet!
  2. Blending Routines: Say three sounds slowly: /f/ /a /n/. Ask: "What word?" Then switch: "I’ll say it fast, you tell me the sounds: fan." This builds blending and segmenting skills.
  3. Sound Swaps with Movement: Use  tiles or squares. Lay out three tiles for "mat." Now change the first tile to make "sat." Then swap the final tile to make "sad." This reinforces manipulation of sounds.
Picture/letter match activity
Once students can hear and work with sounds in words, they’re ready for simple phonics work. The transition should be seamless: introduce one vowel at a time (usually short a), pair it with a few consonants, and work in lots of different ways with the same small group of words.
One sound at a time still counts
Here's a resource that can help with building words or recognizing different cvc words. There's a set for each of the short vowels.
short vowel cvc words tile activities and worksheets

Teaching Tip: One Sound at a Time Still Counts

We often feel pressure to keep moving forward in our curriculum, but for struggling students, going slow is the fastest way forward.
A week focused just on short a might seem like a lot—but it builds confidence and mastery that can transfer to other vowels and more complex words later.
In your upcoming lessons, focus on:
  • Daily blending and segmenting practice using oral language
  • One short vowel sound per week or unit
  • Repetition through multiple formats: games, small group, centers, and independent work
short a sampler
Here's a cvc activity sampler for the short vowel "a". Grab a copy here and try it out for yourself.
Final Thought
Remember: If a student can’t read a word, it doesn’t mean they’re not trying—it may just mean they never fully heard the word’s parts in the first place.
From hearing to seeing. Learning to read
​Next up, we’ll take that strong sound foundation and link it to letters with phonics.
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Talk soon. Thanks for stopping by. Charlene

Related Posts

What language development activities do you focus on?

How To Help Teach Kids About Communities And Living And Working Together

6/8/2025

 
Social Studies isn't just about maps and history books—it’s about people, places, traditions, and the way we live and work together. And summer offers the perfect chance to explore all of that in natural, memorable ways.
Whether you’re at home or on the go, here are some simple activities to help children develop a better understanding of their community and the wider world—without it feeling like a lesson.
Summer learning tips for social studies

Explore Your Community

Take walks or short drives to learn more about the places nearby. Ask questions like:
  • Who works here, and what do they do?
  • What services do we have in our community?
  • What are the different types of homes and buildings?
A walk to the post office, fire hall, or farmer’s market can lead to big conversations about how communities function.
get out and explore your community

Make and Read Maps

Start small—like mapping your bedroom or backyard—and work your way up to neighborhood maps or road trip routes. Try:
  • Creating a treasure map and hiding a surprise.
  • Drawing a map of your local park or favorite hike.
  • Following a map while on a family outing.
Talk about directions (north, south, east, west), landmarks, and symbols to build map-reading skills.
make and read maps

Learn Through Food and Culture

Trying new recipes or attending cultural events can be both fun and educational. Explore:
  • Foods from different countries and their origins.
  • Music, clothing, or traditions from other cultures.
  • Family heritage by creating a simple family tree or sharing stories from grandparents.
Even a themed “International Night” at home can spark a love of learning about others.
cultural activities and food

Celebrate Meaningful Days

Marking holidays or awareness days throughout the summer gives children insight into history and shared values. For example:
  • Canada Day or Independence Day: Discuss symbols, flags, and traditions.
  • Local festivals: Learn the story behind the event.
Books, crafts, or music can help bring the themes to life.
4th of July, Canada Day

Community Helpers Scavenger Hunt

Look for mail carriers, bus drivers, or construction workers and shopkeepers and talk about their roles.
Visit local landmarks, museums, or parks. Talk about the roles different people play in the community.
Do a community helper scavenger hunt

Ask Big Questions

Sometimes the best way to teach Social Studies is to simply start a conversation. Questions to explore include:
  • What makes a good leader?
  • Why do people move to different places?
  • What do we need to make a community safe and fair?
  • How can we be a help in our community?
These kinds of questions invite deep thinking—and there’s no one “right” answer.
Ask big questions
If you would like a checklist for the activities given here, click the button below.
summer learning social studies checklist
Get Your Summer Social Studies Checklist Here
Social Studies is about understanding how we belong, contribute, and connect. Summer gives us time to slow down, notice more, and talk about the things that matter. By weaving in meaningful experiences and conversations, kids will naturally build understanding—and compassion—that lasts long after summer ends.
Social studies tips for summer learning. Weave in meaningful conversations.
This concludes my Summer Learning series. If you missed my previous posts, you can check them out by clicking on the links below:
Summer Learning Math
Summer Learning Science
​Summer Learning Language Arts
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Talk soon. Thanks for stopping by. Charlene

How To Make Language Activities Fun With Creative Ideas This Summer

6/1/2025

 
When kids think of summer, they don’t usually think of spelling, sentence structure, or punctuation—and that’s okay! The good news is that language arts learning doesn’t have to look like a school assignment to be effective.

With a little creativity, reading and writing can be part of everyday fun. Whether you have five minutes or an afternoon, these ideas will help kids stay connected to literacy all summer long.
Summer learning tips for language arts

Keep a Summer Story Journal

Give kids a notebook to fill with drawings, observations, and stories about their summer adventures. They might:
  • Write about a fun day at the park or beach.
  • Create a comic strip about an imaginary creature.
  • Draw a picture and label what’s happening in the scene.
Encourage spelling attempts, invented spelling, or even dictating stories for younger children. It's about expression, not perfection.
Child writing outdoors

Be a Letter Writer

Writing for a real audience is powerful. Kids can:
  • Send postcards or letters to friends, grandparents, or neighbors.
  • Write a thank-you note to someone special.
  • Make a “mailbox” and take turns writing notes to family members.
They’ll practice writing conventions naturally—and see how their words matter.
Children writing notes

Play With Words

Language arts includes speaking, listening, and word play! Great on-the-go games include:
  • “I Spy” with beginning sounds or rhyming words.
  • Making silly sentences using parts of speech, sight words or spelling patterns.
  • Telling a group story, where each person adds one line.
  • ​Labeling everyday objects around the house with sticky notes clues and playing treasure hunt games. This is a great way to reinforce vocabulary.
  • Playing word games like Scrabble or Boggle to practice vocabulary and spelling.
These kinds of games strengthen vocabulary and build sentence structure skills in fun, low-pressure ways.
word games and activities

Make Language Arts Fun With Creative Ideas

Reading and language development doesn’t need to be quiet or solo to count. Try:
  • Family read-alouds on the porch, in a tent, or under the stars.
  • Partner reading with a sibling or stuffed animal.
  • Rhyming games like skipping tunes
  • Word memory games like "I'm going on a trip and in my suitcase I'm packing an apple, a banana, a cake, etc. Take turns reciting what was already said and adding another item for the next letter of the alphabet.
  • Listening to audiobooks on long drives or during quiet time.
Let them choose books that interest them—even if it’s comics, joke books, or animal facts!
make learning fun and creative
If you would like a checklist for the activities given here, click the button below.
summer learning language arts checklist
Get you Summer Language Arts Checklist here
Language is all around us, and summer gives kids the time and space to enjoy it creatively. With just a little inspiration and the freedom to explore, reading and writing can become something they want to do—even on a sunny day. The key to success is keeping it fun!
Fun is the key to success
Don't forget to check out my Math activities for the summer and my Science activities for the summer.

​My next blog post will feature some activities and ideas for working with Social Studies during the summer break.
Sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date with tips, new products and special happenings
Talk soon. Thanks for stopping by. Charlene

Related Posts

Tips for Language Arts
How to avoid the summer slide

How To Help Turn Summer Into A Wonderful Science Lab For Young Kids

5/25/2025

 
Summer is the ultimate science lab. Whether you’re in the backyard, the kitchen, or out exploring your community, there are endless opportunities to observe, question, and experiment. Best of all? Kids don’t need to feel like they’re “doing school”—these activities feel like play.

Here are some easy, low-prep science ideas that help kids stay curious, keep learning, and connect what they see to the world around them.
summer learning science tips

Nature Walks with a Twist

Grab a notebook or a few blank pages, head outside, and turn an ordinary walk into a science observation adventure. Ask kids to:
  • Sketch or describe interesting leaves, bugs, or clouds.
  • Notice and record sounds (birds, wind, water).
  • Ask “Why?” and “What if?” questions about what they see.
You can turn this into a weeklong nature journal—or even focus on one theme per day (trees, insects, weather, etc.).
take a nature walk

Easy Experiments at Home

No fancy materials needed—just some curiosity and a few kitchen staples. Try these:
  • Baking soda + vinegar reactions in a muffin tin.
  • Ice cube melting races in the sun and shade.
  • Sink or float tests with items from around the house.
  • Shadow tracking at different times of day.
Let kids predict, test, and draw conclusions like real scientists!

​If you would like some ready made science experiments that are fun to do, check out this blog post.
children doing experiments

Water Play with a Purpose

Hot days and water go hand-in-hand—so why not sneak in some science?
  • Fill up containers of different sizes and guess how much each holds.
  • Explore which items absorb water and which repel it.
  • Build a simple “pipe” system using funnels, tubes, and plastic bottles.
Introduce words like volume, capacity, evaporation, and flow—and let kids lead the exploration.

Insect And Bug Investigations & Garden Discoveries

Turn over a rock, peek under leaves, or dig a little in the dirt—you’ll always find something living! Some questions to ask:
  • What do you think this insect or bug eats?
  • How many legs or wings does it have?
  • What plants are growing nearby?

​Plant seeds and watch how they grow. Keep an observation journal of changes.

You don’t need all the answers—wondering together is what makes it memorable.
insect investigations and garden discoveries

Weather Watchers

Even summer skies change quickly. Help kids become weather detectives by:
  • Drawing different types of clouds.
  • Recording temperature and weather each day.
  • Learning what meteorologists do.
You can even create a simple graph or homemade weather station using recycled items
weather pictures

Do A Beach Study

Take a trip to the beach and explore.
  • Search tide pools for sea life. 
  • Do a scavenger hunt to find different types of sea creatures and plants.
  • Check out the tides and where the sea life are in relation to the tide line.
  • Check out the types of sand or rocks for various beaches.
  • Look for driftwood and other interesting things along the beach.
beach studies and kids

Recycling Challenge

Learn about ways to reduce, reuse and recycle for a better environment,
  • Reuse materials in craft projects.
  • Turn trash into cash. Return beverage containers to recycling depots.
  • Try simple engineering projects using recyclables like building bridges or ramps.
creative recycling
If you would like a checklist for the activities given here, click the button below.
summer learning science checklist
Get your Summer Science Checklist here
Kids are natural scientists—they love to explore, question, and figure things out. With a little encouragement, they’ll be learning all summer long without even realizing it.
Take science learning outdoors this summer
If you would like to check out other science activities and resources, check out my science catergory in my TPT store.

If you missed my blog post on summer math activities for primary kids, you can check it out here.

My next blog post with have some Language Arts ideas and activities that might be fun to try during the summer break.
Sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date with tips, new products and special happenings.
Talk soon. Thanks for stopping by. Charlene

Related Posts

Tips for school and home primary science
how to keep learning during summer break

How To Help Children See How Math Is Useful Every Day In Real Life

5/18/2025

 
Summer doesn’t have to mean a break from learning—especially when it comes to math! In fact, summer is the perfect time to show kids that math isn’t just something we do in school—it's something we use every single day. Best of all, these activities don’t feel like worksheets or homework. They feel like fun.
​
Here are some simple, real-world ways to keep those math skills sharp while making lasting summer memories.
Summer math learning tips

Working With Money

Learning how to earn, budget, and spend money well are important life skills for everyone. Doing real activities with money will help children learn how to apply the skills they learn. Grocery store math is one example. 
Bring your child along on your next grocery trip and turn it into a math adventure. Ask them to:
  • Estimate the total of the items in your cart.
  • Weigh produce and compare the prices.
  • Count out money and help you check change.
Bonus: If they love pretend play, set up a mini grocery store at home with empty boxes and play money!
using money in real life situations
For more ideas about using money and learning how to budget, check out my recent blog post. A free sampler is also included.
​
For more tips on using money and some hands on activities, check out this blog post.

Cooking Up Some Math

Kids are curious and they love to learn about new things. Hands on activities in the kitchen are great for teaching math skills in a fun way with something delicious to eat in the end.

Measuring, pouring, and mixing aren’t just kitchen skills—they’re math skills too! Get kids involved in:
  • Measuring ingredients (great for understanding fractions).
  • Doubling or halving recipes.
  • Timing how long things bake or cook.
  • Working with different temperatures (oven temperature, stovetop temperatures, refrigerator or freezer temperatures)
  • Learning differences in mass and measurements for wet and dry ingredients.

​It’s messy, meaningful, and tasty math all in one.
cooking up some math

Games That Count

Playing games is a great way to build in math skills without kids groaning about having to do math. There are so many math-rich games that kids love, including:
  • Card games like War, Go Fish, Uno, Yahtzee, Skipbo, or Dominoes that build number sense, strategy, and logical thinking.
  • Dice games that involve adding or subtracting. For more ideas about how to use dice to teach basic facts, check out this blog post.
  • Board games that require counting spaces or managing play money.

These build mental math skills in a natural, pressure-free way. Kids have so much fun playing the games they don't realize that they are doing math.
Counting games

Math Walks And Sidewalk Chalk Math

Walking around the neighborhood is a great way to find out how math is everywhere.
  • Go on a walk and count how many birds, red cars, or triangles you can find.

A bucket of chalk can turn your driveway into a math playground:
  • Draw a number line and jump along it while solving problems.
  • Create a hopscotch board with skip counting or fact families.
Let them get creative and invent their own math games too!
sidewalk chalk math

Build a Math Kit for On-the-Go Fun

Keep math tools handy for road trips, restaurant waits, or quiet afternoons. Try:
  • Dice and number cards
  • A small notebook for tallying or skip counting
  • A ruler or measuring tape
  • Beads or buttons for counting and sorting
  • Pencil and eraser for recording information
This mini math kit makes it easy to squeeze in learning anytime.
build a math kit
If you would like a checklist for the activities given here, click the button below.
summer learning math checklist
Get your Summer Math Checklist here
Math is everywhere, and summer is the perfect time to notice it. Whether you’re traveling, cooking, relaxing at home, or exploring your neighborhood, a little bit of math can go a long way.
Math tips for summer learning
​Next time I will focus on Science and some activities that might be fun to try during the summer break.
Sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date with tips, new products and special happenings.
Talk soon. Thanks for stopping by. Charlene

Related Posts

Tips for school and home primary math
8 fun math tips for summer

How To Help Keep Kids Engaged And Learning During Summer Break

5/11/2025

 
Summer is a much-needed break from the school routine—but it doesn’t have to be a break from learning.
If you’re a teacher, homeschooler, or parent of a primary-aged child, you know how easy it is for kids to forget important skills during those sunny months.

​The good news? Learning can still happen in simple, natural ways that feel more like play than schoolwork.
In fact, summer is the perfect time to connect real-life experiences with essential academic skills across all subject areas.
How to keep learning during summer break
Over the next few weeks I will be sharing tips and activities that help kids practice skills with real world situations. Check below for a summary of each upcoming blog post.

Math in the Real World

​From counting coins at the lemonade stand to measuring ingredients in the kitchen, math is everywhere in summer. This post will be packed with fun, hands-on ideas to keep those number sense skills fresh—without pulling out a worksheet.
Topics include:
  • Money and budgeting
  • Estimating, measuring, and comparing
  • Real-life math games and puzzles
Math without worksheets

Simple Summer Science

Whether you're chasing bugs in the backyard or building a simple water filter, summer is full of curiosity-driven science learning. Help kids explore nature, ask questions, and become scientists in their own environment.
Topics include:
  • Nature walks and outdoor investigations
  • Easy at-home experiments
  • Science journals and discovery challenges
Summer science lessons

Language Arts That Feels Like Fun

Reading and writing don’t have to stop when school ends! With playful prompts, letters to friends, and backyard storytelling, literacy learning can feel like an adventure.
 T
opics include:
  • Summer journals and storytelling
  • Letter writing and family mailboxes
  • Reading and writing activities and word games
Learning fun with language arts

Everyday Social Studies

Social Studies comes to life through community exploration, cultural traditions, and conversations about fairness, history, and identity. Summer is full of real-world ways to learn about how people live and work together.
Topics include:
  • Community helpers and map-making
  • Food, culture, and family traditions
  • Celebrating meaningful days and asking big questions
Everyday social studies
Kids don’t need to sit at a desk all summer to keep their minds growing. With a little creativity and the right mindset, everyday experiences can be full of opportunities to practice important academic skills—and build a love of learning that lasts all year long.

Whether you're planning a road trip, a backyard staycation, or something in between, these summer learning ideas will help make every day count.
Make summer learning fun with everyday experiences
Sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date with tips, new products and special happenings.
Talk soon. Thanks for stopping by. Charlene

Related Posts

summer activities to avoid the summer slide
round up of tips and ideas for fun summer learning for primary kids

How To Help Kids Review Key Skills Through Outdoor Activities And Adventures

5/4/2025

 
As the school year winds down and the sunshine calls us outdoors, it’s the perfect time to blend review activities with a little extra fun. Whether you're teaching in a classroom or homeschooling, the last few weeks of school can be full of joyful learning, memory-making, and meaningful review. Let’s look at some easy, creative ideas for wrapping up different academic areas — with a healthy dose of outdoor time, too!
time for review

Language Arts: Word Games and Story Walks

Instead of sitting inside for traditional lessons, take literacy outside!
  • Sidewalk Sentence Scrambles: Write sight words or vocabulary words with sidewalk chalk and challenge students to build sentences.
  • Story Walks: Choose a favorite picture book, enlarge key pages, and post them along a walking route. Students can read, predict, and discuss as they move along.
  • Poetry in the Park: Bring journals outside and invite students to write acrostic poems, nature-inspired poems, or simple rhymes while surrounded by fresh air.
reading writing word games and story walks

Math: Move and Count

Math review is so much more fun when it’s active!
  • Fact Family Relays: Set up number cards around the playground. Call out a sum or a product, and have students race to find two numbers that match the answer.
  • Nature Math Hunts: Give students a list — find 3 groups of 4 leaves, 5 sticks longer than your hand, or estimate how many steps it takes to cross the field.
  • Place Value Toss: Write numbers on beanbags. Students toss them into hoops labeled "ones," "tens," and "hundreds" to build numbers and practice expanded form.
math move and count games and activities

Science: Nature Explorations

Spring and early summer offer natural opportunities to explore science concepts hands-on.
  • Mini Outdoor Labs: Investigate the textures of leaves, the structure of flowers, or the habitats of tiny critters right outside your door.
  • Weather Watchers: Chart daily temperatures, cloud types, or rainfall amounts and graph the results.
  • Build a Bug Hotel: Combine natural materials like sticks, leaves, and rocks to create habitats for insects. It’s a great conversation starter about ecosystems!
science nature explorations

Social Studies: Community Connections

End-of-year is a great time to reflect on community, kindness, and the world around us.
  • Kindness Rocks: Paint small rocks with encouraging words and hide them around the playground or local parks.
  • Memory Mapping: Have students draw maps of their favorite school year memories — field trips, special projects, or new friendships.
  • Outdoor Role Play: Act out community helper jobs or historical events in small skits outside.
create a memory map

Art and Creative Expression:

Don't forget to mix in some open-ended, creative time!
  • Nature Art: Use leaves, petals, and twigs to create art on the playground — then photograph the masterpieces before the wind takes them away.
  • Sidewalk Gallery: Let kids create chalk masterpieces, then do a "gallery walk" to admire everyone's work.
  • Year-End Memory Books: Assemble simple journals or booklets where kids can write, draw, and share their highlights from the year.
art and expression
Kids are curious by nature. Here's a nature scavenger hunt that might be fun to try with them.
end of year scavenger hunt
Get your scavenger hunt here
A Few Tips for a Smooth Finish:
  • Keep activities short, active, and hands-on.
  • Focus on celebration and connection.
  • Embrace the outdoors — a little dirt and fresh air are good for everyone at this time of year!​
fun activities for year end review
Whether you're soaking up the sun with story walks, building fact families in the park, or recording nature discoveries, the end of the year can be full of laughter, movement, and meaningful review. Here's to finishing strong — and having a little extra fun along the way!
sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date with tips, new products and special happenings
talk soon. thanks for stopping by. Charlene

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taking learning outside this spring

How To Teach Money Skills Made Easy For Parents, Homeschoolers, And Teachers

4/27/2025

 
Teaching kids about money isn’t just about knowing the value of coins or how to count. It’s an important life skill that helps children understand how money works in the world around them. Whether you’re a parent, homeschooling, or teaching in a classroom, the basics of counting money, recognizing coins, and solving simple word problems are all skills that will benefit your child for years to come.

​Here are some practical ideas for teaching money in a way that makes sense, whether you're using Canadian or American coins—or any other kind of currency. The key is focusing on the core concepts and making learning fun and hands-on.
hands on activities help children understand how money works

1. Make Money Matter by Connecting It to Everyday Life

To help kids understand money, it's best to start by showing them how it’s used in everyday situations. Talk about when you go shopping, pay for things, or save for something special. By making money a part of real-life examples, kids can see why it's important to know how to use it.
​
Idea to Try: Let kids handle the money and actually pay for items at the store. This will allow them to see how money is exchanged and why sometimes they receive change. 

2. Recognize Coins: Understanding the Value of Each Coin

Kids need to learn how to recognize different coins and know their value. Even though Canadian and American coins might look different, the idea of understanding sizes, shapes, and values is the same. Teach them to recognize the various coins and talk about how each coin is worth a certain amount.
​
Idea to Try:
Use coin sorting activities with either play money or real coins. Have your child sort the coins by size or type and talk about their values. You can even make a simple coin chart to help them remember which coin is worth what.
Kids sorting and counting money

3. Counting Money: Start Simple, Then Build Up

Once children are familiar with the coins, the next step is learning how to count them. Start small by using just a few coins, and then gradually increase the number. Teach them to start with the largest value coin and count down to the smallest for easier math.
​
Idea to Try:
Create simple money challenges, like counting to $1.00 or $2.00 using only nickels and dimes. You can also use money word problems to make it more fun. For example: "If you have 3 dimes and 2 nickels, how much money do you have?" Word problems help children apply their counting skills to real-life scenarios.

4. Use Visuals to Make It Clear

Some kids might find it hard to understand money just from listening or talking about it. That’s where visuals can help. Whether you’re using real coins or pictures of coins, showing how money works visually makes it easier for kids to understand.

Idea to Try:
Make a simple money chart showing pictures of different coins with their values written next to them. You can also practice counting coins by using visuals and adding up their value on the chart, helping your child see the total amount.
Canadian and American money

5. Practice with Word Problems: Apply Money Skills in Real-Life Situations

Once children have learned to count coins, it’s time to use that knowledge in everyday situations through word problems. Money word problems are a great way to get kids thinking about how they would use money in real life, like at a store or when saving for something special.
​
Idea to Try:
Use money word problems such as:
  • "You have $3.00. You buy a snack for $1.50. How much money do you have left?"
  • "You want to buy a toy that costs $4.00. You have a $5.00 bill. How much change will you get?"
These types of questions not only help kids with math, but they also teach them how to make decisions about money in real situations.
Opportunities to pay for and handle money

6. Make Learning Fun with Games

Money doesn’t have to be all about worksheets and lessons. Make it interactive with fun games that help kids practice their skills. Games are a great way to keep kids engaged while they learn, and they can practice counting, coin recognition, and making change—all while having fun.
​
​Idea to Try:
Set up a mini store at home or in the classroom or at home using play money or even real coins. Let kids practice being the customer and the shopkeeper. They can "buy" and "sell" items, make change, and learn how money is used in a fun and practical way.

Teaching Money Skills is About More Than Just Coins

Teaching children about money doesn’t have to be hard. By making it a part of their everyday life, using visuals, and practicing with games and word problems, you can help them build the skills they’ll need to understand money for years to come. Whether you're using Canadian or American coins—or any type of currency—the most important thing is to keep it hands-on, fun, and connected to real-world experiences.
Canadian money bundle
American money bundle
If you’re looking for resources to help teach these skills, the Canadian Money Activities Bundle and the American Money Activities Bundle are packed with worksheets, task cards, games, and word problems designed to teach counting money, coin recognition, and more. These easy-to-use tools are perfect for parents, homeschoolers, and teachers alike.
Start with some of these activities today and watch as your child or student becomes more confident with their money skills!
Games and other hands on activities for money
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How To Help Take The Confusion Out Of Money With Hands On Lessons

4/20/2025

 
When teaching young children, money can be a challenging concept to master. While we often think of coins as simple objects with values attached, for kids, coin recognition and counting money can be tough to grasp. After all, a dime might look smaller than a nickel, but it’s worth more—that’s a lot for young minds to juggle. Not only that, many kids don't have a change to handle money because many transactions are done with debit and credit cards.
Hands on activities with money
Teaching young kids about money is a crucial skill, but it can also be one of the trickiest concepts to make fun and relatable. You might have found yourself wondering how to keep them engaged while helping them make sense of coins, bills, and word problems. You’re not alone! Many teachers face the same challenge—how to bring real-world money skills into the classroom in a way that clicks.

The good news? You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. With the right mix of hands-on practice and visual support, your students can develop confidence and competence when working with money. 
debit cards and piggy banks

Using Play Money for Coin Recognition

Before you can dive into counting and word problems, students need to recognize the different coins. Coin recognition isn’t just about identifying the coin’s name; it’s also about understanding the relationship between size, shape, and value.
Here are some fun ways to help your students practice coin recognition:
  • Coin Sorting: Have students sort coins by size, color, or value. This is a great hands-on activity that encourages visual and tactile learning.
  • Coin Matching: Create cards with images of coins, and ask students to match the cards with actual coins. You can make it into a memory game for added fun!
This visual learning will help students clearly understand the differences between pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.
counting and sorting coins

Why Hands-On Practice Makes a Difference

Students often struggle with the abstract concept of money because they don’t always get the chance to physically interact with coins. Holding, sorting, and counting real coins helps students develop a concrete understanding of their value. By physically manipulating the coins, students are more likely to internalize the differences between coins and how their values add up.

💡 Teaching Tip: Set up a “money exploration station” where students can freely sort coins by value or size. Give them a set of real or play coins and let them explore, compare, and organize. This is a great way to build familiarity before diving into counting!
hands full of coins

A Money Unit That Provides Lessons For Young Children

Today, I’m sharing a money unit with you that can create engaging, effective money lessons that are both easy to prep and meaningful for students.

The beauty of this unit is it was created collaboratively with my Grade 3 students. We took time to work together to figure out the different activities and we did lots of practice with counting, sorting, and spending money in various role playing activities. 

If you've ever taught a money unit, you already know how tricky it can be. Some students instantly “get it” when it comes to identifying coins and counting bills. Others struggle to remember what a dime is worth—let alone how to make change.

​
It’s normal to have a wide range of abilities in your classroom, but that doesn’t make your job any easier. This unit takes a step by step approach and involves lots of hands on practice and real world examples to help kids make sense of what they are learning. It handles the planning piece and makes things low prep for you.
money lessons and word problem task cards
Check out this unit here. For more information on how we used what we learned to create a spring fundraiser, check out this blog post. For more information about how we worked through the unit, check here.

Grab a Free Sampler

money lessons for children sampler
Grab your sampler here
Here is a sampler of a couple of lessons and templates from the unit. Give it a try and see how you can make working with money real for kids.

Kid Themed Money Word Problems

As part of the money unit, several scenarios were created that were kid friendly and helped with learning how to use money in the real world. This resulted in a supplementary resource of kid themed money word problem task cards. You can check it out here.
money lessons for children that work
For more tips and resources for teaching young children how to work with money check out my next blog post. There I will focus on resources for both Canadian and American currency.
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Why It's Important To Have The Right Research Materials For Young Kids

4/13/2025

 
Are you looking for ways to teach younger children about Canada? Teaching geography and research skills to younger students can be challenging, but rewarding at the same time. 
teaching young children about Canada
Grade 3 is a perfect time to introduce children to basic research skills and resources. Learning about the country they live in is a great place to start.
​

Teaching Canadian geography and research skills in Grade 3 is a fantastic way to spark curiosity and build foundational knowledge about our country. By combining engaging activities with structured research, kids develop critical thinking, organization, and a deeper appreciation for Canada’s diversity.

A Resource To Introduce Kids To Canada's Geography

A great way to introduce kids to Canada’s geography is by focusing on the provinces and territories as a whole. My Canadian Provinces and Territories Research Bundle is a perfect resource to begin this journey. These booklets are designed specifically with younger children in mind, using simple language and vivid photographs to make research accessible and enjoyable. They come in a French version as well.
Canada My Country booklets
Canada Mon Pays booklets
What These Booklets Cover:
  • Symbols: Flags, animals, trees, and flowers that represent each province and territory. (This is a separate booklet).
  • Locations and Maps: Clear visuals to help students understand where each region is located within Canada.
  • Capital Cities: Highlighting the importance of each region’s central hub.
  • Main Industries: Providing insights into what drives each region’s economy.
  • Interesting Facts: Fun and engaging details that make learning memorable.
Why These Booklets Work
  • The combination of easy-to-read text and captivating visuals ensures all children can engage with the material, regardless of their reading level.
  • Covering multiple elements—symbols, maps, industries, and facts—provides a comprehensive view of each province and territory.
  • The uniform structure across booklets helps children build confidence as they learn to extract and organize information.

Teaching Basic Research Skills to Grade 3 Students

With structured guidance, children in Grade 3 can begin to gather, organize, and present information confidently. Here are some tips to make this process enjoyable and effective:
Scaffold Research Tasks
  • Start Small: Begin with guided questions, such as “What is the capital of Alberta?” or “What are the main industries in Newfoundland and Labrador?”
  • Use Templates: Provide graphic organizers to help kids record their findings clearly.
  • Model Research: Show kids how to use age-appropriate sources, like children’s books or curated websites.
​
​Encourage Collaboration
  • Pair kids to work on sections of the booklet together.
  • Use group discussions to share findings and build excitement about learning.
boys doing research

Engaging Activities for Exploring Provinces and Territories

Practical Strategies for Research Projects
  • Research Stations: Set up stations for each province and territory. Include books, maps, and the booklets from the research bundle.
  • Rotating Groups: Divide the class into small groups and rotate them through each station to ensure they cover all regions.
  • Creative Presentations: Encourage children to showcase their learning through posters, digital slideshows, or even short skits.​​
​End the unit with a classroom showcase. Invite kids to present their projects to peers or even parents. This celebration not only reinforces learning but also builds confidence in their research abilities.

Integrating Subjects

  • Combine geography with art by having kids draw symbols or create regional maps.
  • Integrate language arts by assigning descriptive writing tasks about the provinces and territories.
Using resources like the Canada My Country booklets and the Canadian Provinces and Territories Research Bundle allows you to teach geography and research skills in a way that’s engaging and manageable. The use of simple language and vivid photographs ensures that every child can participate and succeed. Children develop a sense of pride in their country and the ability to communicate their findings effectively.
Canadian resources and activities
Canadian French resources and activities
Ready to inspire your kids? Want more Canadian Social Studies resources? Check out these resources to bring Canadian geography to life in your classroom!
make teaching about Canada engaging with the right research materials
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    About Me Charlene Sequeira

    I am a wife, mother of 4, grandmother of 9, and a retired primary and music teacher. I love working with kids and continue to volunteer at school and teach ukulele.

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