Editor's Note: This blog was previously published, we're re-sharing it today during the Holiday season.  

By Paula Dugger, M. Ed., Guest Blogger

Do you feel like there's not enough time to teach a class of kindergartners or first graders how to read and write and teach math? Keep reading if you're searching for ways to help students enjoy learning how to read, write, and practice math concepts with low-level readers.

Integrating reading and math helps kids make real-world connections. It helps students understand the reasoning behind math and connections to everyday things around them. Learning becomes fun and entertaining for the students when you go beyond rote memory activities by using a leveled reader.

In today's post, I'll provide examples of activities you can use with three guided reading books from the Kaleidoscope Collection to teach math concepts. Leveled readers in this post are intended for kids who are reading at kindergarten and first-grade levels. Keep reading to find out how easy it is to build content-area literacy about math concepts.

Practice Counting with Level B Informational Texts

Throughout the year, you can have kids continue rewriting this guided reading book by adding new numbers and items. For holiday-themed lessons, you can also use Valentine's Day hearts, or snowflakes, to practice counting.

The process of learning how to associate the word two with two objects can be complex for children. Luckily, the leveled book Two uses parts of the body to explain the meaning of two by showing children things they are familiar with. The repetitive sentence structure and supportive photographs make this an easy-to-read and useful book for kids who need practice reading and developing number concepts.

Here are some activities you can use to extend learning after reading Two .

• Have a discussion with kids about things that come in twos.
• Give students several minutes to search the classroom to find two of the same things and return to the group to share.
• Improve vocabulary by introducing the word pair to describe things that come in twos. Then have kids share things they think of that come in pairs.
• Create books using the same type of writing activity mentioned earlier in the blog to reinforce high-frequency words and the meaning of the word two in Two .

Teaching Shapes with a Level D Informational Text

                                                                                                              Making shape books is an activity that you can use to help students practice learning about specific shapes. Each shape can have its own book, or you can create a book identifying the shapes of different signs on the road. This will help kids connect shapes to real-world things while they practice reading and writing skills. Below is an example of sentences you can use for text in a hand-made book about road signs.

When you have the right books, integrated lesson planning for math instruction, along with reading and writing activities, isn't so hard. Children need to have repeated opportunities to make real-world connections to strengthen reading skills and math strategies.

Be sure to visit our blog soon for ideas to help students practice second-grade math concepts with fun informational texts at levels K–L.

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Paula is an educational consultant who has previously served as a Reading Recovery Teacher/Teacher Leader, first grade teacher, Title I and high school reading teacher, and a Reading Coordinator. If you like what you read here, you can enjoy  more from Paula on our blog .

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