Helping children tell the difference between 6 and 9

Herbwifemama · 04-04-2010, 03:16 PM

I saw a thread with useful tips about b and d, and my dd has an issue with 6 and 9. I know she's still young, but she wants to know. She says that a 6 is and upside down 6. She thinks a 9 is a six. And even if she knew the 6 and 9, calling one the "upside down" version of the other isn't helpful, I don't think. Does anyone have some helpful tips for this lil confusion?

Singingmom · 04-04-2010, 04:06 PM

Would it help if you had her learn to write the 9 with a ball and stick? It would be an upside down b, not a 6...more confusion?

Maybe she could more easily see how the printed curvy version looked like the ball and stick version...

Herbwifemama · 04-04-2010, 04:10 PM

I don't know what you mean by ball and stick? She's barely writing letters, we haven't touched numbers yet.

Singingmom · 04-04-2010, 04:15 PM

Ok, some people write the 9 just like it looks when you type it, as one long swoop. Others write it making the loop counterclockwise and then bringing the line straight down... In this example they show the big one looking like the upside down 6 and then the child practices the one I'm describing.http://akidsheart.com/threer/lvl1/no9prnt.htm

If she got used to the "ball and stick" 9, it wouldn't look like an upside down 6...make any sense?

Herbwifemama · 04-04-2010, 04:22 PM

Yeah.

I write the ball and stick 9, so perhaps we will practice writing them and it will help her figure it out. Her biggest experience with numbers is the digital clock readout, and they look the same, just reversed. She has issues with 5 and 2 for that reason. She also plays cards, but same deal there.

Singingmom · 04-04-2010, 04:29 PM

Oh sure, the digital clock would do that!

AngelaVA · 04-04-2010, 04:37 PM

One thing I have done when kids are stuck on a reversal like this is to pick one of the letters or numbers, let's say 6 and practice that one a lot, in a lot of different ways, and don't practice 9 at all for awhile. Practice it lots of different ways, markers, pencil, chalk, shaving cream etc and give it time. Wait until she can always write a 6 correctly without hesitation, and then work on 9 again.

tigerlily · 04-04-2010, 06:28 PM

I was just trying to think of a word mnemonic... maybe something like "six sits, nine toes the line." And tell a story of how six's round bottom sits down low, but nine just keeps one little toe on the line.

tempus vernum · 04-04-2010, 07:55 PM

we say "6 sticks up and 9 comes down fine" In fact, my older children are teaching my youngest this way when we do matching or they are pointing out numbers to her

It has REALLY made sense to them when I show them what I mean by it

and since it rhymes it has stuck in their heads

04-04-2010, 03:16 PM	#1
Herbwifemama Deactivated dd running through the sprinkler last summer Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7,345	Helping children tell the difference between 6 and 9 I saw a thread with useful tips about b and d, and my dd has an issue with 6 and 9. I know she's still young, but she wants to know. She says that a 6 is and upside down 6. She thinks a 9 is a six. And even if she knew the 6 and 9, calling one the "upside down" version of the other isn't helpful, I don't think. Does anyone have some helpful tips for this lil confusion?

04-04-2010, 04:06 PM	#2
Singingmom Administrator Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 25,954	Re: Helping children tell the difference between 6 and 9 Would it help if you had her learn to write the 9 with a ball and stick? It would be an upside down b, not a 6...more confusion? Maybe she could more easily see how the printed curvy version looked like the ball and stick version... __________________ Kelly Wife to my sweetheart for 30 years Grateful mom to 3 young adults Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

04-04-2010, 04:10 PM	#3
Herbwifemama Deactivated dd running through the sprinkler last summer Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7,345	Re: Helping children tell the difference between 6 and 9 I don't know what you mean by ball and stick? She's barely writing letters, we haven't touched numbers yet.

04-04-2010, 04:15 PM	#4
Singingmom Administrator Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 25,954	Re: Helping children tell the difference between 6 and 9 Ok, some people write the 9 just like it looks when you type it, as one long swoop. Others write it making the loop counterclockwise and then bringing the line straight down... In this example they show the big one looking like the upside down 6 and then the child practices the one I'm describing.http://akidsheart.com/threer/lvl1/no9prnt.htm If she got used to the "ball and stick" 9, it wouldn't look like an upside down 6...make any sense? __________________ Kelly Wife to my sweetheart for 30 years Grateful mom to 3 young adults Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

04-04-2010, 04:22 PM	#5
Herbwifemama Deactivated dd running through the sprinkler last summer Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7,345	Re: Helping children tell the difference between 6 and 9 Yeah. I write the ball and stick 9, so perhaps we will practice writing them and it will help her figure it out. Her biggest experience with numbers is the digital clock readout, and they look the same, just reversed. She has issues with 5 and 2 for that reason. She also plays cards, but same deal there.

04-04-2010, 04:29 PM	#6
Singingmom Administrator Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 25,954	Re: Helping children tell the difference between 6 and 9 Oh sure, the digital clock would do that! __________________ Kelly Wife to my sweetheart for 30 years Grateful mom to 3 young adults Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

04-04-2010, 04:37 PM	#7
AngelaVA Rose Garden Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 11,512	Re: Helping children tell the difference between 6 and 9 One thing I have done when kids are stuck on a reversal like this is to pick one of the letters or numbers, let's say 6 and practice that one a lot, in a lot of different ways, and don't practice 9 at all for awhile. Practice it lots of different ways, markers, pencil, chalk, shaving cream etc and give it time. Wait until she can always write a 6 correctly without hesitation, and then work on 9 again. __________________ Wife to David since July 2005, Mama to Genevieve born June 2006 and to Gabrielle born February 2009

04-04-2010, 06:28 PM	#8
tigerlily Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Into the sky, all the way out. Posts: 7,377	Re: Helping children tell the difference between 6 and 9 I was just trying to think of a word mnemonic... maybe something like "six sits, nine toes the line." And tell a story of how six's round bottom sits down low, but nine just keeps one little toe on the line. __________________ Hi! I'm Robin married 13 years to my best friend mama to two ~ 9 & 6 years old ‎"Don't they teach recreational maths anymore?" ~The Doctor

04-04-2010, 07:55 PM	#9
tempus vernum Rose Garden I am the mountain. I am not the storm and the storm is not me. -Ian Cron Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 28,913	Re: Helping children tell the difference between 6 and 9 we say "6 sticks up and 9 comes down fine" In fact, my older children are teaching my youngest this way when we do matching or they are pointing out numbers to her It has REALLY made sense to them when I show them what I mean by it and since it rhymes it has stuck in their heads __________________ ~Spring always comes after winter~ 2 Corinthians 4:16 “ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ”

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