Your Child Can Learn While Reading Valentine's Day Cards Received from Classmates

Hi there!

This is the second half of a mini blog series about teachable moments using Valentine's Day cards your child gives and receives

Part One was about the teachable moments that occur while your child prepares Valentine's Day cards for classmates.  If you missed it, click here.

After the celebration ends, the cards your child received are quickly forgotten.  But, they could prove to be useful and even motivational.

Try finding a way to incorporate the cards into some teachable moments.  Here are a couple ideas to help jumpstart your thinking.

Sight vocabulary and reading fluency: 

If the greetings on the cards include words that are not yet a part of your child's sight vocabulary, pick a card from the collection and have your child read it aloud.  Think of it as part flashcard, part page from a book.  

Assuming each card has only a few words, if your child has to think about more than one word on most of the cards, then it might be best to isolate a single card for repetitive use. In this case, have your child read the card to practice recognizing all the words.  Do not emphasize fluency for this type of practice.

On the other hand, if your child can read through the cards knowing most of the words, but isn't yet reading with fluency (smooth, expressive and following the cues of punctuation marks) then it will work fine to use a set of 3-5 cards for repetitive practice.

Sorting the cards using a Venn Diagram:

Sorting the cards can be done with or without reference to the words on the cards. Here are examples of different sorts, depending on the types of themes represented on the cards.

• Cards with green vs cards with brown
• Cards with toys vs cards with vehicles
• Cards with numbers vs cards with eyes
• Cards with imaginary character vs cards that came with food
• Cards with super heroes vs cards without the word "Valentine".
• Cards with toys vs cards with animals
• Cards with jokes/riddles vs cards with a fold

Math:

Similar to sorting with the Venn Diagram, your child could practice fractions using the cards.  For example:

• If your child brought home 17 cards received from classmates, that is the 'whole' set of cards.  From the whole 17 cards, how many of the cards contain jokes &/or riddles?  Let's say 6 cards contain jokes.  That's a fraction of 6/17.  
• If your child is further along in the concept of fractions, you can contrive sets to create problems involving common denominators, least common denominators, or arranging fractions from least to greatest.

Use the cards to practice concepts of measurement. 

• Measure the length of objects by lining up cards side by side.  This is a good activity for children who have not yet been taught to measure with inches or centimeters.  It is fun for children to use items of high interest to measure larger items.  For example, your child lines up cards along the edge of the coffee table.  Your child determines the coffee table is _____ cards long (or wide).  Measurement can continue, the chair is _____ cards long (or wide).  Let your child choose items to measure and make a list of the results:  books, favorite toys, computer, width of step, board game, box of cereal and packages of favorite foods, placemat, pet, dog leash, shoe, water bottle, width of doorway, 
• If your child is able to measure in inches &/or centimeters, the cards can be measured for length and width.  Use nearest inch/centimeter for younger children.  Third through Fifth Graders can begin using smaller increments.  Homework can clue you on what has been introduced in class.  
• The cards can be used in a way to introduce the measurement of area in a non-customary way: Use the cards to cover the surface of an object (table, seat of a chair, placemat, pillow, box).  "The area of the seat of my chair is 17 Valentine's Day cards."  

Fact practice is definitely more fun when using counters like Valentine's Day cards. 

• The cards can be used as objects to manipulate as children learn to solve basic addition and subtraction facts.  The cards can also be grouped in equal sets to help learn basic multiplication and division facts.  
• Convert the cards to flash cards by placing a piece of masking tape on the back of each card and write a fact on the tape.  Your child practices answering the facts.

The Valentine's Day cards received by your child can easily be used to create teachable moments.  Whether it's for a couple days or weeks, the holiday theme will make it fun for your child to do skill practice.  Give it a try.