Number 8 is a special number and many young learners find it difficult to write at first. With several ways, kindergartners can master how to write number 8 in number and in words. It’s the only number in the English language that has two syllables, and it’s also the only number that has as many syllables as the number of letters it has. This can be a great opportunity to reinforce some foundational letter knowledge with your kindergarten students!
Teaching Number 8 with Objects
Teaching the number 8 to a kindergarten class is an important and fun part of early numeracy education.
- Show students that numbers are everywhere.
- Explain how numbers help us in our day-to-day lives.
- Teach your students how to write a number.
- Give your students plenty of time to practice writing the number 8.
- Use lots of repetition to help students master the concept of 8.
The Circle Method
- The number 8 is a tricky one to teach to kindergarteners, because it’s so similar to the number 3. It’s easy for these young kids to get confused and think they’re the same. Make sure they know that the number 8 looks like two circles stacked on top of each other, while the number 3 looks like a backwards letter E.
- Explain that you can show the number 8 by holding up eight fingers on one hand; this will help them remember that an 8 looks like two circles.
- Write out numbers and put them in different contexts for your students so that they can see examples of how the number 8 is used in real life.
The Continuous Method
Number 8 is a figure of balance and symmetry, so when you teach your students to write it using the continuous method, you’ll start from the middle.
- Start below the headline and curve back toward the left side of the poster.
- Curve up toward the right side of the poster.
- Slant up to meet the blue headline at its left-hand side.
There’s nothing more satisfying than a number that ends where it begins, and this is one of those numbers.
Teaching number 8 with The Song Method.
The song method is an effective and efficient way to get your child reading and writing it in no time at all,
- Teach your child the song. It goes like this: 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8. Repeat it a few times.
- Download number songs for your child on youtube.
- Break it down. Explain that the number itself can be drawn as two circles stacked on top of each other with a diagonal line through both of them. Point out that this is exactly what the number looks like in print.
- Get your child to try drawing the number themselves. Tell them that they have to make sure that the middle of their circles are touching each other. If they struggle with this part, you can always use a ruler as a guide for them until they get used to it!
- Finally, tell your child’s teacher about what you’ve done so far so she knows how far along her students are coming from before starting class.