Christmas break is over, New Years Resolutions are already broken (or not) and the demands of having your children back in school are Priority Number 1. Recently, my daughter asked for help in creating a way to encourage her triplets to learn their kindergarten sight words.
She had come up with the idea of using a muffin tin to hide a treat under a flap that had a word on it. If one of the kids could read the word they got the treat. The hardest word had an extra special treat. This really worked as a motivater but her typing paper version wasn’t holding up too well. She knew that I could make a better one with the Inspiration and she also knew I wouldn’t even hesitate to do something for the grandkids!
I love discovering new ways to use my Inspiration and the further from my craft room the projects get, the more I realize just how versatile this machine is. Originally, I thought I would just give you the cutting file for the muffin tin cover. But I realized that not everyone will have the same muffin tin at home. So, instead I have made a video to show you how to custom make your own muffin tin cover.
I can think of so many ways to use this teaching tool: math problems, sight words, colors and shapes to name a few. You could even play a matching game with pre-schoolers by placing two of the same kind of treat under the flaps. Find the matching goodies and you get BOTH of them!!
This is just so clever, I love it.
Okay….you have started up the teacher in me. Love the idea…but would not put a treat in every mold. Instead, for the 1 + 1…I would maybe put one heart and one clover and a separate number 2. For the 1+2…I would put one heart and 2 clovers…or whatever. Most kids who are learning their math facts for the first time don’t associate the number of objects with the numbers being added. I would then have a “The end” once they get them all right…so that when the open that one pocket….THAT is where they will find one nice treat. And…when they are finding the hearts and clovers….you can have then glue them to a separate sheet of paper in horizontal fashion….2 glued down hearts + one glued down clover = 3 (the separate number in the tin)…and that is the reward in itself because they love to paste things down. Love the idea though….I am sure that there are other teachers looking at this and wanting to add on as well. We just can’t help ourselves.
BTW….you can do this with egg cartons as well.
You could always combine the two ideas and do things like raisins and peanuts (2 raisins + 1 peanut = 3 snacks!) instead of hearts and clovers if you didn’t want to face the “stickiness” of glue with your kid(s) 🙂
Christine, I LOVE this. My son is in kindergarten and learning those exact things right now!!!
Ok did you say TRIPLETS ??????? OMG! What a blessing. Each time that I was pregnant I hoped for twins! I didn’t have twins but was blessed just the same. Dana
This appeals to the me as a homeschooling parent. Very cute and creative!
Dana, Yes, I did say TRIPLETS! 2 girls and a boy. They are a huge blessing and a lot of fun. I am glad that I live close by to help out though, because they are a lot of work. Can you imagine doing homework x3? My daughter also has a 7 year old and a 8 1/2 month old.
Wilma, I homeschooled my kids for 12 years. I know how you are looking for inexpensive and versatile teaching aids. This one definitely fills the requirements! 😉
Wow what a great idea and just perfect for my four year old grandson .
Not only will he learn but think its even better to get a treat in the process.
Thanks so much for another brilliant idea
I too am a homeschooling parent and this is a great idea.
Chris, you always have the best ideas ever! This is such a great idea, I love it!!
Gave this to my grand daughters and they love it! My daughter said they have so much fun with it they don’t want to quit. I thought that was pretty good for a 2 and a 3 year old.
Thanks so much for sharing this idea!