Anyone remember Cuisinaire rods? They are like unifix cubes, but with words or letters? They are great for developing readers to practice blending sounds and making words from individual letters.
The smart people who make Cuisinaire rods (
ETA Hand2Mind) also make another great product: VersaTiles! VersaTiles are a hinged plastic mat that hold square tiles. One one side are numbers and on the other, a design. There are multiple books that teach students different skills in math, reading, and science, depending on the set you buy.
Here are some of my kids playing VersaTiles in a small group. The instructions for my set suggest setting up a borrowing system so students can do this as homework. It's so fun!
The kids love to play. They take turns reading the questions at the top of the page, then they scroll to the bottom and find the answer and the letter. If the answer to number 4 is G, then they place the number 4 tile on the letter G space (number side up), below the hinge.
|
Here is a student placing the number tile over the letter space. |
|
Here they are finding the correct answer together in a small group. |
|
Double checking their work. |
|
Moving on through the list of questions. |
|
All finished! |
|
Close the lid. |
|
Flip it upside down. |
|
Open it back up. |
|
Check the pattern against the pattern at the bottom of the page. If it's the same, success! |
I got the
Level 2 Reading/Language Arts Starter set. It comes with one VersaTile and 8 different activity books: Fun With Phonics, More Fun with Phonics, Ready! Set! Spell!, Read for Meaning, Read to Understand, Reading for Everyday, Fun with Language, and Language in Action. It meets a variety of needs and really is fun for the kids.
The great people at
ETA Hand2Mind are giving away one extra set of the winner's choice! Enter the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I like the phonics set of versatiles...it would be great!
ReplyDeleteMandmyoung(at)chartermi(dot)net
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Versatiles. They are such a great activity and the students can use them for self checking!
ReplyDeleteღDeAnne
First Grade and Fabulous
I would love to get the math starter kit!
ReplyDeleteLove this manipulative and I know that my firsties would too.
ReplyDeleteamiebuzza@yahoo.com
I would love the phonics set!
ReplyDeleteI would love a set of Versatiles I have been thinking about purchasing some!
ReplyDeleteWendy
Scubaisfun1@hotmail.com
Oh, I would get the one on phonics!
ReplyDeleteSo hard to choose, I would get the reading/language arts starter set.
ReplyDeleteAmber
ambs98@nc.rr.com
I would like the VersaTiles Level 4 Reading/Language Arts Starter Set...hoping that would be a good match for my students.
ReplyDeletetokyoshoes (at) hotmail (dot) com
I have the math set! I love it. I would want the phonics set.
ReplyDeleteSamantha Tharpe
I would love the phonics set!
ReplyDeleteMisty
Think, Wonder, & Teach
I love Versatiles! Years ago I had a third grade set, but now I'm teaching 2nd grade. I would love to get my kiddos using the second grade math set during guided math/math workshop.
ReplyDeleteStorie
atozscrapbook@gmail.com
Stories by Storie
Oh, I would love them all- but probably the phonics the most!!
ReplyDeleteThese look so cool!! I'm a newbie teacher and this would be sweet in my classroom :)
ReplyDeleteI would love the phonics set!
ReplyDeleteChristen
christenfoote@yahoo.com
I think I would get the math starter kit!
ReplyDelete-Caitlyn
Fourth Grade Lemonade
i would love the phonics set!
ReplyDeletelorinademello@hotmail.com
Love these! I would love the Level 1 Reading/Language Arts Starter set!
ReplyDeleteCheryl
crayonsandcurls(at)gmail(dot)com
Crayons and Curls
I would love the math kit!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteLive Laugh and Love to Learn
I would love the reading/ela starter kit or the one on Picture Books.
ReplyDeleteStellaluna114@gmail.com
I love VersaTiles! My students use them almost every day. I would love the Phonics Set. Great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHeather at TeachItToday
I would get the science starter kit. I can always use fun stuff for science. I love versa tile and would love to have some for my classroom.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI would like VersaTiles Phonics Lab.
ReplyDeleteThose look awesome! Such little prep for us, fun for the kids, and self checking! Wow!
ReplyDeleteI would love the VersaTiles Problem Solving!
-Dani
A Place to Thrive
I'd love the phonics starter set.
ReplyDeleteTalesfromoutsidetheclassroom @ gmail.com
Comprehension
ReplyDeleteI would love the phonics starter set!
ReplyDeletepcolagal1963@gmail.com
thanks !
Kids love VersaTiles! I'd get the math starter set.
ReplyDeleteOur school uses them for remediation, but I would love the problem solving or critical thinking ones at my level
ReplyDeleteI would get the Language Arts level 2 starter kit.
ReplyDeleteMeaghan Walls
meagw@shaw.ca
These look awesome I would want to try the Grade 3 Reading/Language Arts starter set. The Phonics, Word Attack & Vocabulary also looks awesome. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI love how VersaTiles are self checking!
ReplyDeleteJennifer
I saw a teacher use VersaTiles when I was subbing, and the kids loved them! I'd love to have a set of my own for my new classroom!
ReplyDelete~Mrs. K. from The Teacher Garden Blog
I would get the Phonics Set!
ReplyDeletelraines78@gmail.com
The Phonics Starter Kit would be sooooooo useful in our rural Title I room. Thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteeugenezirk@centurytel.net
Very Cool! I can't decide between the math set or the reading comprehension set!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThese are so cool. I would love to have the math set to start. Although I'm sure once I have one set I would want to have one for reading comprehension as well.
ReplyDeleteclburesh@yahoo.com
I would love a third grade math set
ReplyDeleteOh my word...so funny that you are blogging about this...I literally just brought home my math ones to get them set up for workstations next week! I didn't realize they made them for reading as well, I would LOVE a 3rd grade reading comprehension set!
ReplyDeletehminckler@hotmail.com
Oh my goodness, I borrowed a friend's math versa tiles for a couple weeks last year and my students love them!! They were great and I loved how there are lots of different book choices to go with them and that they can check their answers on their own! I would LOVE to have the math starter set for my classroom!! This is such a wonderful giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteMolly
Lessons with Laughter
I'd pick the first grade math set. I think they'd make a great addition to some math stations!
ReplyDeleteKristin
kristinbrehm@gmail.com
I would love the level 4 Math Starter Set!!!!
ReplyDeleteThey all look amazing, but I'd love the phonics set.
ReplyDeleteI love this giveaway!!! I would certainly get the Level 2 math starter set!!
ReplyDelete