Fall Addition Color by Number: A Fun and Easy Way to Practice Math Facts

Are you looking for a fun way to help your students practice their math skills? Look no further! These Fall Addition Color by Number worksheets are the perfect way to engage your students and provide them with the practice they need.

As a teacher, I know how important it is for students to have a strong foundation in math facts. That's why I created these Fall Color by Number Addition worksheets. Not only do they provide extra practice, but they also allow students to have fun while doing it!

These fall color by number worksheets are perfect for fall-themed lessons and activities. Your students will love coloring in the pictures as they practice their addition skills. And the best part? You can print and go! No prep needed!

In addition to the Fall Addition Color by Number worksheets, I also offer subtraction, multiplication, and division versions. If you have any requests for additional skills, just leave a comment below and I'll be happy to create them for you!

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.  

Fall Subtraction Color by Number

Fall Multiplication Color by Number

Fall Division Color by Number

Each math facts set comes with (8) fall-themed color by number pages and answer keys.

Want even more value? You can save 50% by purchasing the four-season color-by-number sets, which include fall, winter, spring, and summer themes.

So what are you waiting for? Add these Fall Addition Color by Number worksheets to your teaching arsenal and watch your students' math skills improve while they have fun learning!

Multiplication Facts Color By Number Four Seasons

Addition Facts Color By Number Four Seasons

Pull out the crayons or markers and let your students have fun while learning their math facts with these fall math fact printables!

Helpful Tools We Love For Color by Number Activities

* Printer I absolutely LOVE my HP Printer that uses Instant Ink! I love it because I can use as much ink as I want for one low cost!  No more running to the store for printer cartridges! Try it out for free here!

* Crayons While you can use any crayons with these worksheets, my favorites are the twistable crayons!  They color so vibrantly and they last a long time!

When to Use Color By Number Worksheets

Have you ever used color by number worksheets in the classroom?  If you have, I'm sure that you noticed that your students loved them!  you probably loved them to because they are super easy to prep, and your students get time to practice valuable skills!

Make sure you read to the end to grab a color by number freebie!

But, did you know that research suggests that coloring may lower stress, boost creativity, and even help to improve attention spans? There are many ways that using color by code worksheets can benefit your students!  Here are a few of the benefits and when you should use color by number worksheets in your classroom:

What Are the Benefits of Color by Number Worksheets?

1. Engaging Practice

When students are engaged in their work, they are more likely to transfer those academic skills to long-term memory.  Since students love color by number worksheets, they are more likely to be engaged!

2. Improves Fine Motor Skills 

Coloring uses fine motor muscles which not only helps students coloring skills, but can also rub off with their other fine motor skills such as handwriting.  Many of our students need that extra hand strength!

3. Allows Students to Work Independently

Color by number worksheets are self-checking so students are able to work on them independently which frees teachers up to work with small groups.

When to Use Color by Number Worksheets?

1. During small group instruction for independent seat work.

It is hard to work with small groups when other students are constantly interrupting with questions about their "independent work".  Color by number worksheets can be completed independently with very little instruction.

2. In math centers.

Because color by number worksheets can be completed with little instruction, they make perfect additions to your math centers!

3. During holiday parties.

It is nice to have a little quiet down-time activity during holiday parties, and holiday themed color by number worksheets are perfect for filling that need!

4. For Fast Finishers.

Color by number worksheets make a perfect activity for fast finishers.  They are easy to complete and give students additional practice with skills.

5. Homework

Homework should be an activity that students can complete independently, and color by number worksheets fit the bill!

6. Morning Work

It's nice to have something engaging for your students to work on while you are attending to those morning tasks such as taking attendance, collecting homework, etc.  Color By Number Worksheets are perfect for this!

7. To Provide Differentiated Practice

If you have students who are at varying levels (and honestly what teacher doesn't?), you might want to provide differentiated practice.  All of my color by number worksheets have a variety of levels to help every learner get the practice they need.

If you would like to use color by number worksheets in the classroom, check out all of the varieties I have available here.

Helpful Tools We Love For Color by Number Activities

• Printer I absolutely LOVE my HP Printer that uses Instant Ink! I love it because I can use as much ink as I want for one low cost!  No more running to the store for printer cartridges! Try it out for free here!
• Crayons While you can use any crayons with these worksheets, my favorites are the twistable crayons!  They color so vibrantly and they last a long time!

Back to School Color by Number Worksheets

Would you like to try out my color by number worksheets?  Grab a freebie below:

Back to School Multiplication Color by Number Freebie   

Back to School Addition Color by Number Freebie

Back to School Read Alouds

Are you looking for some new ideas for Back to School Read Alouds for the first week of school?  I love First Day Jitters just like most of us, but sometimes it gets old hearing your students say, "We read this last year!" It kind of ruins the whole surprise ending.  Hopefully, this list will give you a few new ideas to read to your students on those first few days of school!

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.

#1 A Letter From Your Teacher On the First Day of School

This book is my new favorite book for Back to School!  A Letter from Your Teacher on the First Day of School is written as a welcome note from a teacher to her students on the first day of school.  She tells them that she can't wait to get to know all of the things that make each of them who they are. She promises to greet them every morning with a smile (and high-fives, hugs, and fist bumps if that's their style).

There is also a letter at the end from the author to teachers where she talks about reading aloud as one of the most powerful love languages - and I can't agree more!

Teaching Idea: 

A great follow-up activity to this book would be to ask your students to write you their own letter where they introduce themselves to you.  Ask them to include the things they love, the people in their family that are important to them, and what their goals are for the school year.

#2 A Letter to My Teacher

A great follow up to the first book is this book which is written in the form of a letter from a former student to a teacher who had a lasting impact on her life (including inspiring her to become a teacher herself)!

The narrator of A Letter to My Teacher says that she "was the one who marched to school that first day, splashing through every puddle I could find..." she says that for her "school meant sitting still and listening, two things I wasn't much good at."

So many students can see themselves in the narrator, and it is a great way to show them that as their teacher, you will help them to grow and love all those things that make them unique!

Teaching Idea: 

In the book, the teacher reads to the children about the explorer, Mary Kingsley, and the student says that she is just like her when she causes havoc on a field trip.  Have your students research and learn about Mary Kingsley themselves.

#3 Mrs. Spitzer's Garden

Mrs. Spitzer is a wise teacher who knows many things.  She knows about gardens, and she knows about children.  She knows how similar they are, and how both will flourish if tended with love.

Mrs. Spitzer also knows that each plant (and each child) has their own shape.  Each grow differently, some "...grow quickly, pushing upward, eager, impatient. Some grow more slowly, unfolding themselves bit by bit."

You and your students will love the comparisons between students and flowers in Mrs. Spitzer's Garden!

Teaching Idea: 

After reading the book, investigate how seeds grow.  What things are needed to help them to grow?  What differences do some seeds have? (i.e. some need more light, others need support as they grow).  Perhaps start a small garden with your students.

#4 Miss Maple's Seeds

Miss Maple's Seeds is another story that compares students to flowers, but in a slightly more subtle way. The book never shows Miss Maple in a classroom, but the author leaves hints that it is a metaphor for being a teacher.

In the book Miss Maple "... learns each seed by heart, all similar yet none the same." She takes them on field trips where they learn about being a seed and how they must "..take care to stay clear of weedy characters."

In May, it is time for Miss Maple to send her seeds off to find roots of their own.  She reminds them that "...even the grandest of trees once had to grow up from the smallest of seeds."

Teaching Idea: 

Since this book is a metaphor for students and teaching, comparing them to seeds and Miss Maple, have your students compare the two and show how they are similar.

#5 Ish

Ramon is a little boy who loves to draw. But one day, his older brother makes fun of his picture because it doesn't look "right". He finally gives up drawing until he sees his sister's room.  She has created a gallery of all of his drawings.  She points to one of the pictures and says that it is her favorite.  Ramon says that it was supposed to be a vase of flowers, but it doesn't look like one.

His sister replies that it looks "vase-ISH!" He realizes that all of his drawings are "ish" and that is ok. This is a great way to introduce your students to the fact that it is ok to make mistakes as we are learning, and that not everything needs to be picture perfect.

Teaching Idea: 

In the book, Ramon's brother breaks down his confidence by laughing at his picture.  In order for students to feel comfortable living "ishly", the classroom needs to be a comfortable and safe place.  Ask students to describe a classroom where all students feel safe living ishly.  Remind them to include:

• How students should treat each other.
• How they can support one another.
• How they can react when other students make a mistake.

#6 How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Wallace Bleff has an overactive imagination and his parents tell him that his imagination is "getting to wild" as whey send him out West to visit his Aunt Fern.  That's how his essay about how he spends his summer vacation begins.

But,  he becomes captured by cowboys who carry him off to their Cow Camp. His story becomes wilder and wilder until he tells his teacher that he can't wait for show and tell (as a bull appears in the illustration). Your students will love How I Spent My Summer Vacation!

Teaching Idea: 

Have your students write their own versions of "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" by using their imaginations to come up with crazy ways that they could have spent their summer vacation.

This is a great way to help students write about their summer vacation without anyone feeling bad if they didn't get to do anything exciting over the break. 

#7 Calvin Can't Fly

Calvin Can't Fly is the story of a bookworm birdie who LOVES to read!  While all of his sterling brothers, sisters, and cousins are learning to fly, Calvin is in the library learning to read. In the end, it is Calvin's love of learning that helps him and the other starlings to survive a hurricane. He also finally learns to fly!

This book is a great starting point for a conversation about respecting and appreciating individual differences.

Teaching Idea: 

Have your students write about the things that make them unique.

#8 Dear Teacher 

Dear Teacher is written in the form of letters from a little boy named Michael who has his own first day Jitters and is explaining why he can't go to school.

Teaching Idea: 

Have your students write about the wildest reasons why they can't go to school.

Bonus Teaching Idea: 

I know that I said at the beginning of this blog post that these books were different than First Day Jitters, but if you are anything like me, you still LOVE this book and want to share it with your students anyway!  Here is an idea for that inevitable moment when your students blurt out, "We've already read this!"

Before I read the book, I tell students "I know you may have read this book before, and if you have, I don't want you to spoil the ending!  But, I have a big job for you. I want you to pay attention to how the author and the illustrator worked to make it a surprise ending."

The students then look for clues such as the character saying, "I'm not going! or "I hate my new school!"  They might also notice how the illustrator doesn't show the whole character, so you can't tell that she's not a kid.

I hope you found this list helpful with new ideas for Back to School Read Alouds!  What is your favorite Back to School Read Aloud?  Let me know in the comments!

Are you looking for more ideas for Back to School? 

Back to School Activities, Ice-Breakers, and Community Builders

Back to School Multiplication Color by Number

Back to School Door Decoration

Back to School Word Search

Teacher Giveaway! Weekly $25 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway August 23, 2021

                          Teacher Giveaway

Every week we give one lucky teacher a $25 Teachers pay Teachers gift card!  Enter our weekly  giveaway for teachers for your chance to win!

This Giveaway is Over!  Please visit our Giveaway page to enter our current giveaway.   Sign up HERE to be alerted about all of our future giveaways!

                     GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Prize: $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card 

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter to enter.  Giveaway ends 8/23/21 and is open worldwide.  

Are you a Teacher Blogger or Teachers pay Teachers seller who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your store and social media?  Click here to find out how you can join our totally awesome group of bloggers! 

Enter this month's teacher giveaway rafflecopter below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Best Ideas for 5-Minute Reading Responses

I love being able to conference with my students during their independent reading time, but, as you know limited time makes it impossible to meet with each student every day.  Here are a few ideas ways for your students to respond to their reading that will allow you to peek into their thinking and comprehension when time is short.

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.

Reading Status Updates

Many students are either on social media, or know all about social media and status updates. Put that to good use with a reading status update.  I like to have my students post on their Class Dojo, but you could use SeeSaw, Google Classroom, or even have them go old school with paper and pencil versions posted on the board.

Have students give a quick 2-3 sentence update on what they read that day.  You might want to give them prompts to get them started such as:

• What are you thinking about our wondering about your book right now?
• What predictions can you make?
• How has your character changed?
• How does the setting effect your story?

3-2-1

This activity has students give responses using the 3-2-1 format.  Have them list:

For Fiction:

• 3 things that happened in the story.
• 2 new words they learned or 2 quotes they found interesting.
• 1 thing they are wondering about.

For Non Fiction:

• 3 words that were new or interesting to me.
• 2 facts I learned.
• 1 thing I am curious about or want to learn more about.

Somebody Wanted, But, So, Then

This strategy is a great way to help your students summarize what they read.

The somebody answers - Who is the main character?  

The wanted answers - What does the main character want?

The but answers - What is the problem?

The so answers - How did the main character solve the problem?

The then answers - What was the resolution, or how did the story end?

You can grab a free graphic organizer for the Somebody Wanted But So Then strategy here.

Dear Diary,

Have students imagine that they are one of the characters in the story they are reading.  Then, have them choose an event in the story that involves that character.  Have them write a diary or journal entry about the event from their point of view. Remind them to write in first person and include their emotions, actions, and opinions about what happened.

This Reminds Me Of...

Have students make connections to what they are reading.  Give them the following prompts:

When I read this part: (students will write a part from the text).

I was reminded of: (students will make a connection to their own experiences or another book they have read).

Quote Collector

Have students keep track of quotes they find as they read.  You might offer prompts such as:

• Quotes that tell opinions or feelings
• Quotes that give facts or information
• Quotes that make me wonder about things

Post-It Note Responses

Have students keep a stack of post-it notes close by as they read.  When they have a question, or find an interesting part, they should respond on the post-it.  When you conference with them, you can have them share their post-it notes with you.

Read and Respond Menus

Giving students a choice in their reading response is a great way to add motivation, and helps when they are all at different spots in their books (some are just starting a new book while others are smack in the middle), or if they are reading different genres.

That's why I created Read and Respond forms for my students. Each set contains 5 different forms (3 fiction and 2 non fiction) that can be completed with any book.  Each form has 8 - 13 different prompts for your students to choose from.

You could use one format each month, rotate each week, or pick and choose based on your instructional focus and student needs.

I have also included editable versions so that you can change questions as needed.

I currently have these available for:  

* Second Grade Read and Respond   

* Third Grade Read and Respond    

* Fourth Grade Read and Respond 

* Fifth Grade Read and Respond

   What is your favorite way to have your students respond to their reading?                

 

How To Ease Math Facts Timed Test Anxiety

If you have been a reader of my blog for any length of time, then you know that I use timed math facts tests in my classroom using my Kicking it Math Fluency program. 

I often receive questions from teachers using the program asking about the timing aspect.  They either ask, 

"How many problems should a student complete in one minute?" 

or 

"How do I help students who have anxiety about timed tests?

The answer to the first question is: It depends on the student, but most students can answer 60 math facts problems in under 3 minutes.

This blog post answers the second question, with a story about how I handled it in my classroom, and several tips for how to ease math facts timed test anxiety.

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.  

Every year since I have started using the program (almost 10 years now), my students have LOVED it and get mad at me if I ever forget to do it.  And, not only do they love doing it, but they actually know all of their math facts which helps so much when we start doing more math concepts such as reducing fractions or finding equivalent fractions.

Well, a few years ago at Meet the Teacher night almost EVERY single parent came up to me and introduced their child with the line,

 "He/she has great anxiety about taking timed math facts tests, you don't use them do you?"

I almost wondered if a hidden camera was in the classroom as some sort of joke.  

But, there wasn't a hidden camera, so I knew the parents' concerns were valid and I needed to be responsive to my students' needs.  

I came up with a plan to reduce their anxiety. 

I passed out the Kicking It Math Fact folders like I usually do, and explained how to put the sheet protector in the folder so they they could be re-used.  Then I passed out level A of addition.  Even though I usually start with the multiplication version with my 4th graders, I thought that starting a step down would be less stressful and anxiety provoking.

Then I told my students to hold their fingers up in the air.  I told them they were just going to "write the answers" on their forms using their fingers.

One of the students protested, "But, then you won't be able to see if we got them right?"

"This is for you to practice your math facts, so I don't need to know if you are right or wrong, I just want you to practice."

Another student raised their hand, "How much time do we have?"

"As much time as you need. When you finish, bring your folders up to me."

The students began taking the test with their fingers as writing tools. One by one they finished up and turned them into me.  The whole process took about 3 minutes.

The next day, one of the students asked, "Can we write our answers today?"

My response, "Anyone who wants to write their answers using a dry erase marker can."

Every student in the classroom pulled out a marker.  They again, completed the forms and turned them in.  Again, the process took about 3 minutes.  Since they had written their answers, I graded them and replaced them with Set B.  They had all passed.

When I passed out the sets the next day, they were so excited to see they had moved on a level.  

"Are you going to time us today?" One of them asked.

"I will set a timer for anyone who wants to use it.  If you finish after the timer, don't worry, just finish your set like yesterday and turn it in."

I set the timer for 3 minutes since that was about how long it took the past two days for every student to finish. Again, the whole class finished in time, and again, the whole class passed.

From that day forward, we continued using Kicking It Math as I always have, and they were just as excited about earning their belts as my past students had been.

Here are some more tips for helping your students to overcome timed test anxiety.

Tips for Tackling Timed Tests and Math Anxiety

1. Don't Use a Timer.

You don't need to use a timer to use math facts fluency tests.  The process shouldn't take more than 5 minutes as long as you are using 60 questions or less.  If students are taking longer, you may need to help with practicing the facts, or making sure they are actually on task.

2. Reduce the Amount of Facts.

If your students are not successful with the amount of facts you are asking, reduce the number of facts you are asking them to solve.  You can do this by drawing a line halfway through a standard timed test.

My Kicking It Math Facts resource includes a version with less questions asked that doesn't look much different from the standard ones.

3. Use Math Games to Practice.

I love using math games to help my students practice their math facts.  The games sometimes have a timed element, but the focus is on playing the game, so they don't have as much anxiety attached to it.

Here are some games you can use to practice math facts:

Math Facts Dice Game  

Math Facts Who Am I?

Math Facts Erase  

Math Facts Doughnuts Relay

Math Facts Game Capture

4. Practice the test verbally first.

I have my students practice their math facts verbally right before we take the math facts test.  I have practice belts and flashcards included in the Kicking It Math resource, but you could also just have students verbally answer whichever timed test you are using. This will give them additional time to practice and gain confidence before they take the test.

5. Provide Extra Practice

I keep track of my students' progress and try to keep them all at a similar pace.  If I notice that there is too big of a gap between my highest and lowest student (more than 3-5 levels), I provide extra practice to my lowest students to help them catch up.  This might include extra math fact practice in small groups or even additional opportunities to take the tests.

6. Don't Use Them As a Grade

I want my students to know their math facts fluently, so that they can save their working memory for learning the more challenging concepts in math.  I don't need to take a grade to do this.  I use math fact fluency tests as a way to help them practice and strengthen their memory muscles.

Since they are not graded, the pressure is reduced.

7. Help Students Develop a Positive Mindset About Math

My own math anxiety didn't come from timed tests (I'm one of those weird kids who loved them), but instead as a reaction to a particular math teacher.

I had an Algebra teacher who would tell me that I needed to practice my waitressing skills or that I wouldn't even get into a community college whenever I got a problem wrong. It was this constant berating when I made a mistake that made me hate math.

Years later, I had a Calculus teacher who saw mistakes as part of learning, and explained how mistakes grew dendrites in our brains.  He built off what we could do rather than what we couldn't.

We as teachers really can effect whether our students have math anxiety.  To reduce math anxiety, help your students build a positive attitude about math.  

By helping your students to overcome their math anxiety and fear of timed tests, you are not only helping them with their math, but you are changing their perception of themselves as learners!

What other things do you do to help your students overcome math anxiety?