Reading comprehension. When teaching students their numbers, display a number line and calendar prominently. Students can refer to them for help remembering the correct order of the numbers. Another helpful tool is a set of dot plates. Draw a different number of dots on paper plates. Make sure that all the numbers between 1 and 9 are represented at least once. Then, hold up a plate and ask students what number it represents. When teaching students how to add, hold two plates up side by side. Then ask students for the total number of dots Hands-on activities are particularly good learning tools. Pass out 5 coins and a cup to each student. After they shake and spill the coins, they should record how many land on heads and how many land on tails. Continue the activity until students find all possible combinations of heads and tails. Then, try with a different number of coins, such as 6 or 7. You could also read a narrative out loud. Tell students, “Mary had 3 cookies. She ate 2 of them, and then bought 8 more.” Have students keep track of the number of cookies Mary has. They can use beads or beans as counters.