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sorting sockies

home / Activities / foundations / sorting / sorting sockies
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Packing–even for a few fun nights away–sometimes completely exhausts me. Especially when I’m packing three little suitcases along with my own.

So I put Owen and Cora to work last week during Maddy’s half day at school.

While I put aside the clothing they’d wear on our trip to Pennsylvania, they sorted socks. And sorted, and sorted, and sorted.

  • Sorting Socks: I’m sure every family has this problem, and if they don’t, I want to know their secret. But for us, the sock portion of everyone’s drawers is just. . . nuts.

So on this day, I said to Owen and Cora, Okay, friends. if we want to be ready to go to Nanny and Pap’s house for a few days, I really need your help. These sock drawers are an absolute mess. I need you two to put on your best sorting hats and help me organize these sad and lonely pairs of socks.

Then I dumped Owen’s socks on the floor and showed them what I meant. I put four socks in a row, and then I searched for their matches. When I found one, I put it on top of its partner. I did this for each one, and then I told them to pick four socks that they could help find their friends.

Yikes! Owen’s sad, unsorted socks

They each picked four socks and searched for their partners. When all four were matched, I folded them into a ball and put them aside, and they grabbed four more. If we couldn’t find a match for one, we put it in the “lost sock” basket.

It was easy for them, and they had fun doing it. Sure, by the time we dumped Maddy’s socks on the floor, they started griping and moaning, but we all worked together and sorted everyone’s socks. And all the while, they were using their brains to figure out what to look for to find matches.

And, in the end, Cora and Owen were both happy to see their clean and organized sock drawers. Now, when I ask them to go and grab a pair of socks, they can do it easily–and they won’t come downstairs with different sock for each foot. (Not that I mind; I’m just happy to see them with two socks on, but still. . . .)

Owen is four years old, and Cora is two; they are completely capable of helping me with this task, and I wonder why I didn’t put them to work before now.

We’ve sorted everything under the sun–we’ve done crayon piece sorting, bead sorting, rhyme sorting, sound sorting, money sorting, candy sorting, color sorting, pop bead sorting, letter and number sorting, bean sorting, tricky letter font sorting, and toy sorting. Why not socks?

Sorting is worthwhile for so many reasons, but helping to keep their own rooms and drawers clean on top of it? We’ll definitely be sorting socks more often around here; I like the kind of learning that helps to keep drawers and rooms clean on top of being a little bit fun.

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About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

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This yearโ€™s registration deadline is approaching, but you still have time! 

What better way to get students to engage in civics and contribute to their communities? 

https://teachmama.com/bring-the-national-civics-bee-to-your-community/

#CivicsBuzz #strongcommunities #middleschool #civicsbee #teachersofIG
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Have you heard of The National Civics Bee? #ad 

The National Civics Bee is an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. 

Organized in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition in your community will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions. 

Learn how to bring The National Civics Bee to YOUR community now: https://teachmama.com/bring-the-national-civics-bee-to-your-community/

Iโ€™m thrilled to have partnered with @mom_select and @civicsbuzz for this exciting campaign! โ™ฅ๏ธ๐Ÿค๐Ÿ’™

#CivicsBuzz #middleschoolers #teachersofIG #communitypartners
View
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Oh HEEEEEYYY, @luvvie โ€” did you see that @littletroublemaker made our hallway bulletin board? ๐Ÿ˜‰โ™ฅ๏ธ

(Itโ€™s what Rusty the ๐ŸฆŠ is currently reading.) 

Find it at your favorite bookstore or order here: https://amzn.to/3Pu3tWs

(This is my affiliate link, so when you use it, I will earn a small percentage of the sale, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for using my link and supporting my small business!)

#readingteacher #raiseareader #kidlit #bestbooks #linkinbio
View
Open
How can people with dyslexia learn to read? ๐Ÿค”

Here are the 3๏ธโƒฃ elements that reading instruction should contain in order to be most effective for students with dyslexiaโ€”

#demystifyingdyslexia #raiseareader #readingteacher #teachreading #dyslexiaawareness
View
Open
Lately when I find four leaf clovers, Iโ€™ve been leaving them. ๐Ÿ€๐Ÿคท๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

So if youโ€™re in Maryland, and you happen upon a lonely, little 4-leafer with very little grass, weeds, or leaves around it, I donโ€™t know WHO tried to set you up for success.

#yougotthis #keepyoureyesopen #itsthelittlethings #kilpattyluck
View
Open
Okayโ€”how do we know if someone has dyslexia? 

Which professionas are able to make that important determination? 

โ–ถ๏ธ Watch to find out. 

Hit me with the questions you still have about dyslexiaโ€”and know we have a few more posts to go!

#demystifyingdyslexia #raiseareader #teachreading #readingteachersofig
View
Open
What are some of the common signs of dyslexia?

Watch to learn and find out!

#demystifyingdyslexia #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading #dyslexia
View
Open
True โœ… or false โŒ?

#demystifyingdyslexia #dyslexiaeducation #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading
View
Open
What do you know about dyslexia? 

What questions do you have about dyslexia? 

For the next few weeks leading up to my own start to the school year I am sharing a new series called โ€œDe-Mystifying Dyslexiaโ€ and I would love for you to join me! 

Follow in my stories or on the highlight above!

#dyslexia #teading  #readingteacher #raiseareader #demystifyingdyslexia

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