Sunday, April 23, 2017

Earth Day Color by Code Freebie

Happy Belated "Earth Day"!

We often talk about the importance of taking care of our planet because it is beneficial to ourselves as well as future generations.  One thing we shouldn't neglect to emphasize with our students is that it's not just about us!  Human beings are not the only ones that inhabit the Earth.  We're the caretakers of the planet.  We're Earth's "custodians"!  The environmental choices we make impact all living things on Earth.

I made a Color by Code freebie in honor of "Earth Day".  Use it as a review for your unit on animals.  Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects are the six animal groups included.  Children read the animal names on the sheet such as the word "swan".  Then they determine the animal group and color according to the key at the top of the page.  Click the link to get the freebieEarth Day.

Earth Day is on April 22nd!  Celebrate the event with your students with this free "Color by Code" printable.  There are five animal groups that are classified as vertebrates.  They include mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds.  There is one group of animals classified as invertebrates which are insects.  Students read the animal names in each section of the color by code page and determine the animal's classification.  They then color according to the key provided on the printable.


"Earth Day" is on April 22nd but every day is a perfect day to be a good steward of the planet we all call home!

Copyright 2017 Molly McMahon

Monday, April 3, 2017

Simple Solutions for Difficulties Arising with "Color by Code" Printables

Hello visitors!  Yesterday a wrote a blog post about seven strategies for using "Color by Number" (or "Color by Code").  You can read it HERE.  Today I'm going to address ten common classroom challenges that come with "Color by Code" printable pages.  I'll offer a few easy solutions to those difficulties as well.  Best of all, there's a "Color by Code" freebie for beginners.  Scroll down to the end of this post to get the free download.

Below is a list of the challenges (and their solutions) that can occur with "Color by Code" printable sheets.

1.  Insufficient Materials.  The crayon colors necessary to complete the pages are missing.
      Solution:  Use the "Color by Code" sheets as a station area instead of a whole class activity.  Supply JUST the crayon colors needed to complete the printable at the station.  Children will waste time rummaging through tons of crayons if too many are provided.

2.  Material Depletion.  Coloring the "Color by Code" sheets have caused crayons to become worn out!
     Solution:  Don't use crayons that are pristine.  Collect old crayons and make them the ones that are to be used for large coloring projects. 

3.  Disproportionate Students' Finishing Time.  Some students are coloring too heavily which is making the task take too long!
     Solution:  Model the manner in which to color.  Emphasize the technique of coloring LIGHTLY or GENTLY without much pressure put on the paper.

4.  Low Homework Return Rate.  A "Color by Code" page was assigned for homework and only 50% of the class returned the work.
     Solution:  Don't assign "Color by Code" sheets as a homework assignment!  As educators, we don't know what materials are available at home.  A child that is missing one crayon color will not be able to complete the work.  If you are not sending home the needed crayons the day the work is assigned, don't make "Color by Code" a homework assignment.  The Math Facts Color by Number Addition and Subtraction product that I created can be used as a math station activity or with summer review materials.

5.  Color Confusion  Some students can become preoccupied with the shades of any given color.  They will constantly ask you which crayon they should use within the same color family.  
    Solutions:  Tell the children that you are looking forward to viewing their varied results.  Once in a while a "Color by Code" sheet may have two shades of the same color.  A good way to term these are to say, "light blue", "dark blue", "light green", "dark green" and so forth.  Don't make it more complicated than that!  You could also allow the children to test the colors on a scratch piece of paper to find the shade they desire to use.

6.  Color Blindness.  Children that have a form of color blindness may not know they're using the wrong colors.
    Solution:  Accept the work as is.  Encourage the student to read the labels on the crayons to determine the correct color.     

7.  Mistakes Can't be Erased.  Students make mistakes and they can't erase the crayon colors!  You might have spent time assisting a child with trying to scrape off the crayon wax in order for a mistake to be colored over with another crayon color.  It's frustrating for both the teacher and the child! 
     Solutions:  Have students color a small portion of each section and then require them to check their work again before completing the coloring.  Alternatively, have them write the answers in each section with a pencil.  Then check their work yourself before allowing them to color.  Sometimes it's easier for a child to start over.  Keep extra copies of each sheet on hand with this in mind.

8.  Student Misreads the Code/Key.  A student has misinterpreted the code/key and has colored an entire section the wrong color.
     Solution:  Alter the key on the child's paper so that it matches his/her work.  View the photo below.  The flower is colored purple instead of pink.  The word pink has been crossed out and the word purple has been written below.  The teacher has caused the exemplar to become accurate.

 "Color by Code" printable pages are always a hit with children who love to color!  They can incorporate a wide variety of topics such as animal groupings, multiplication facts, color word recognition and more!  This color by code printable page is a free download!  Children identify the letters of the alphabet that are shown in each section of the coloring sheet and color the sections according to the key which is shown at the top of the page.  They'll enjoy taking their finished work home!
9.  Inaccurate Student Evaluation of Concepts/Skills.  Some students will be able to identify the picture and the color pattern without solving the facts.  They're coloring accurately but not because they understood the work.
     Solution:  Use the "Color by Code" printables as practice, reinforcement, and summer review.  Don't use them as an evaluation tool for concepts or skills.

10.  Mechanics of "Color by Code" Are Not Understood.  While students may be proficient in basic addition and subtraction facts, they don't necessarily know how to complete a "Color by Code" sheet.  They may not understand how to use the key.  It may also be the first time they've used a "Color by Code" sheet.
     Solution:  Use a very basic "Color by Code" printable (such as the one shown below) as an introduction for them.

"Color by Code" printable pages are always a hit with children who love to color!  They can incorporate a wide variety of topics such as animal groupings, multiplication facts, color word recognition and more!  This color by code printable page is a free download!  Children read the color words shown in each section of the picture and match with their crayons to color accordingly.  When they're finished coloring, they'll have a picture which can be displayed on a classroom bulletin board.
I hope this post will give you some additional insights on how to overcome the challenges that can take place with "Color by Code" printables.  

Grab a freebie and get your beginners started with "Color by Code"!  Click the image below to get the freebie.

http://bit.ly/colorbycode

Copyright 2017, Molly McMahon
All rights reserved.
Copying, pasting, or procuring my content in any manner is prohibited.


                  

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Seven Strategies for Success with Color by Code Addition and Subtraction Facts

I'm thrilled to have completed my first set of color by number printable coloring sheets.  This resource is a collection of basic addition and subtraction facts in a color by code format.  I've used graphics from Krista Wallden-Creative Clips and I know primary kids will love the space theme!

This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!

If you're using iPads in your classroom, your students have undoubtedly used "Color by Number" apps on their devices.  However, there's nothing like coloring your own picture that can be proudly displayed on a classroom bulletin board or on the refrigerator at home.

I'd like to share a few strategies for making accommodations and modifications with my color by number math facts printables.  Using these strategies means that many of your students can have success with the same work!

1.  Mark the Legend (key/code).  What teacher hasn't done this before!  My color by number printables are for addition and subtraction skills and not for reading skills!  There may be a child that is a whiz with adding and subtracting but hasn't learned to recognize his/her color words yet.  Remove an immature reader's stumbling block by color coding the color words before he/she begins.

This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!

2.  Divide Work into Chunks.  If you've been an educator for a while, you know that this is a popular strategy used to provide an accommodation for a child that can easily become overwhelmed by large amounts of work.  Maybe you've circled half of the math problems on a worksheet and asked a student to complete the circled portion.  You can use the same strategy with color by number printable pages.  One way to do this is to assign parts of the picture.  The rocket picture (shown below) could be divided into three segments.  The exhaust and the stars could be colored as the first step.  Then coloring the rocket could be assigned.  The last step could be to color in the background.  Breaking the work up into chunks can enable a child into visualizing the work as a less tiresome undertaking.

This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!

3.  Eliminate Part of the WorkThis strategy is very similar to number two.  Color some of the sections for the child before giving it out.  Maybe you're thinking, "What!  I don't have time for that!"  I know it's not practical as a classroom teacher to spend your valuable time coloring work.  This where afternoon helpers from a higher level grade come in handy.  They'll love to color some work for you!  If you have access to a color printer, you can print  a color copy of the partially completed work and use it as a master to print additional pages.  Make sure to wipe off the printer's screen so that no crayon marks are left behind!

This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!

4.  Change the Form of Art Media.  Crayons have traditionally been used with color by number printable sheets but other coloring materials can be used as well.  Some children aren't keen about using crayons.  Perhaps the small muscles in their fingers are underdeveloped and they are feeling hand fatigue early on in the coloring activity.  Consider magic markers, triangular shaped crayons, colored pencils, paint balls, or watercolors.  Be prepared for a bit of mess and with colors mixing together if they use watercolors!  By the way, I love that triangular crayons don't roll off of the table! 

This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!
Crayola has some crayons called Twistables ® Slick Stix.  They make coloring a snap and leave deep, rich colors.  Twelve colors are in a package which includes every color needed except for the pink.  Students can tolerate using their regular crayons for the pink section.
  
This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!

5.  Provide Manipulatives and Supportive Devices.  Math standards may require students to commit their basic addition and subtraction facts to memory but some students haven't reached that milestone yet.  Allow them to use counters, numbers lines, or calculators to find the answers to the addition and subtraction problems.  

This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!

I found calculators (shown below) at Walmart a few years ago.  They were a dollar a piece.  If you're looking for good, cheap calculators, consider making your purchase during the summertime "Back to School" sales.

This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!

Math facts charts can assist students that are able to visually track (horizontally and vertically) simultaneously on a grid.  Here's a math facts chart for adding within ten the you can download:  FREE MATH FACTS CHARTSOne of my color by number pages is adding within ten.  The other addition pages vary from adding within ten and on up to adding within twenty.

This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!

6.  Give the Student the Answers.  Most of the strategies I've mentioned fall into the category of being an accommodation and not a modification.  This depends on what your objectives are for assigning the color by number sheets.  The use of calculators might also hinge toward being a modification.  It's unrealistic to expect a child that has significant deficiencies in addition and subtraction facts to do the work that everyone else has been assigned.  Here's an opportunity for you to transform that child into feeling like the "superhero" for the day!  He/she will gain exposure to the basic facts without the requirement of solving facts.  Give the child a sheet with all the answers included and assign him/her as the job of being the "Answer Key Maker"!  You'll also save yourself the color ink from printing the answer keys.  I've included pages for this purpose in my Color by Number Basic Addition and Subtraction Facts resource.  All of the sections have the complete number sentences within the sections that are to be colored.  The child will need to be able to identify the sum or the difference and use the color keys printed on the pages.  An example of this is shown below.

This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!
Depending on your students' needs and the manner in which you are differentiating, you will not have the same objectives for all students.  Here are some possible objectives.

*  Students will solve addition and subtraction facts fluently.

**  Students will solve addition and subtraction facts using manipulatives.

***  Students will solve addition and subtraction facts using supportive devices.

****  Students will gain exposure to addition and subtraction facts.  

***** Students will identify the sums and differences in addition and subtraction sentences.  

****** Students will use a key to color appropriate spaces.


Here's the final strategy and this post is almost finished!

7.  Offer a Natural Incentive.  Offering an authentic incentive is an excellent strategy for motivating students to finish work!  It might be enough motivation for some of your students to see their classmates' finished work (proudly displayed on a classroom bulletin board or school's hallway) to spur them on toward completing their own work!  Allow the children to embellish their finished masterpieces with something special like glitter paint.
 
This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!
I found paint for sun-catchers at Walmart and had no idea if it would work on paper.  I tried it out and it worked well!  The pink circles are much brighter than the pink stripes that are on the planet that the alien is standing on.

This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!

Addition and subtraction "Color by Number" printables can be one of your best allies in promoting fluency with basic math facts.  My Color by Number Basic Addition and Subtraction Facts printables have about fifty problems for the students to solve per page.   The plain practice page shown below has barely half that number of problems.

basic addition and subtraction facts page

Let's face it;  coloring a picture of our planet is much more engaging!

This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!

My resource includes six printable pages plus color coded answer keys.  There's also the duplicate pages with the answers given for your students that are the "Answer Key Makers"!  There are two subtraction facts printables and four addition facts printablesThe "Earth" color sheet (shown above) is for adding three numbers with sums in the range of 11 to 18.

I'm very excited about this productThere are some pitfalls with "Color by Number" that you should become aware of and try to avoid.  I will make another blog post tomorrow evening that will address the potential problems and provide you with ideas on how to resolve them.  Best of all, I'll be providing you with two FREE Color by Code for Beginners printables that are not included in the one showcased today.  

If you would like to view this product at my shop, click on either of the images shown below.  The price is $2.00 for a limited time.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Facts-Color-by-Number-Additon-and-Subtraction-3070793

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Facts-Colour-by-Number-Additon-and-Subtraction-British-Spelling-3091414

Copyright 2017 Molly McMahon. All rights reserved.

This color by code packet will be a hit with children that love to color.  Plus, they'll use their algebraic abilities to solve the problems!  There are six usable sheets.  Each page targets an addition or subtraction skill.  These include subtracting within 12, subtracting within 20, adding with sums up to 10, adding teen numbers or adding within 20, and determining the sum when three addends are given.  This collection of color by code has a space theme!  Great for summer take-home packets!