Helping children tell the difference between 6 and 9

Herbwifemama · 04-04-2010, 02:16 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, 03:06 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, 03:10 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, 03:15 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, 03:22 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, 03:29 PM

Oh sure, the digital clock would do that!

AngelaVA · 04-04-2010, 03:37 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, 05:28 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.

SonshineMama · 04-04-2010, 06:55 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, 02:16 PM	#1
Herbwifemama Deactivated dd running through the sprinkler last summer Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7,629	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, 03:06 PM	#2
Singingmom Administrator Children of God, Sing your Song and Rejoice! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 16,429	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... __________________ Wife to my sweetheart for 19 years Homeschooling mom of 2 young men, ages 16 & 14 and one energetic girl, age 9 When I joined GCM they were 8,6, and 1. When we cannot trace God's hand, we must simply trust His heart. ~ Charles Spurgeon

04-04-2010, 03:10 PM	#3
Herbwifemama Deactivated dd running through the sprinkler last summer Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7,629	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, 03:15 PM	#4
Singingmom Administrator Children of God, Sing your Song and Rejoice! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 16,429	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? __________________ Wife to my sweetheart for 19 years Homeschooling mom of 2 young men, ages 16 & 14 and one energetic girl, age 9 When I joined GCM they were 8,6, and 1. When we cannot trace God's hand, we must simply trust His heart. ~ Charles Spurgeon

04-04-2010, 03:22 PM	#5
Herbwifemama Deactivated dd running through the sprinkler last summer Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7,629	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, 03:29 PM	#6
Singingmom Administrator Children of God, Sing your Song and Rejoice! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 16,429	Re: Helping children tell the difference between 6 and 9 Oh sure, the digital clock would do that! __________________ Wife to my sweetheart for 19 years Homeschooling mom of 2 young men, ages 16 & 14 and one energetic girl, age 9 When I joined GCM they were 8,6, and 1. When we cannot trace God's hand, we must simply trust His heart. ~ Charles Spurgeon

04-04-2010, 03:37 PM	#7
AngelaVA Rose Garden Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 8,924	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, 05:28 PM	#8
tigerlily Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Into the sky, all the way out. Posts: 6,875	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. __________________ Robin Wesley ~ 12 years with my best friend mama to Lucy ~ 8 years old and Zoe ~ 5 years old ‎"Don't they teach recreational maths anymore?" ~The Doctor

04-04-2010, 06:55 PM	#9
SonshineMama Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Resting in Jesus Arms! Posts: 16,942	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 __________________ for PurpleButterfly Jodi Lovin' and servin' Jesus, Married to my Soulmate Gentle Homeschooling Mama to RainbowGirl , SkaterSurvivorBoy and Little Bit Healthy and Allergy Free Blog

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