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A Teeny Tiny Teacher

Link-Its Or Whatever They’re Called

Happy Sunday!

Happy Sunday with a Monday holiday!

It just sort of changes the feeling of Sunday when you get the next day off, don’t ya think?  Instead of thinking about what I’m going to wear or pack for a lunch or procrastinating on all of the stuff in my school bag and the bottom of my cart, I’m thinking about . . . hmmm . . . well, nothing at all.

Okay, that’s not entirely true because I am the type of person who can’t turn her brain off.  It’s really quite annoying.

So, as someone who can’t turn her brain off, I’m going to tell you a little story.

Once upon a time when I was very young and just starting out, I bought a bunch of math manipulatives for my classroom.

Cubes, pattern blocks, counters, tens and ones, you know . . . all good stuff for learning math.  

And I also bought these:

Because they were right alongside the cubes and pattern blocks and other math stuff.  So I assumed they were for math.  I call them link-its.  You might call them chains.  Either or.
Except, well, um, besides counting them, what exactly are they for?
Let me tell you.
During Fun Friday, your kids will use their imagination and they will play Doggie.  To play Doggie, one student is the dog and another student makes a collar and leash out of the link-its.  And then, when you’re not looking, the kid that is the doggie puts the link-it collar on and is led around the classroom by the other kid.  Don’t worry, it’s safe.  The collar is loose enough that it’s not a choker.  I think.  And you’ll figure out what they’re doing soon enough when you hear barking and then you’ll put a stop to it because it’s sort of dangerous to have link-its or chains around people’s necks.  Unless, of course, it’s a necklace.
Which brings me to the other game your kids might play during Fun Friday with the link-its.  They will play King and Queen and wear crowns, necklaces, bracelets, and big ole rings.  
This is actually a phenomenon.  I don’t introduce or model these games and they are played every single year.  See?  Phenomenon.
Just for Fun Friday, mind you.  Not during Literacy Centers or anything like that . . . I do have standards.  Common Core, to be exact.
So anywho, this has been going on for years and years because I’m as old as the hills and beyond.  
And then.
I was perusing blogs and such and came across this post from A Differentiated Kindergarten.  Marsha is a genius.
Look what she is doing with her link-its.
HELLO?!!!!
Are you dying?
Her kids are linking together number cards and counting by fives!  They can also count by 2s or 10s or 1s or whatever you want!
HELLO?!!!!
Marsha also has cards with letters on them – for linking the ABCs in order, spelling out sight words, etc, etc, etc!
I introduced it this week in Centers.  

I love how it’s automatically a differentiated center — my kids that need to work on lower numbers can, and my kids that need more of a challenge can link the numbers together by 2s or go up to 120.  
It is BRILLIANT.
Not to mention, this is time consuming.
And I am a fan of Things That Consume Time.
Seriously, so in love with this.  I can’t get over it.  I’m telling everyone!  One friend said she only used them for patterns and another friend said she only used them for measurement.  
I nodded right along.  Of course, of course, me too . . . we certainly aren’t playing Doggie or King and Queen.  
I mean, who does that?
Link-its serve a purpose.  Obviously.

Comments

  1. Marsha McGuire says

    My gosh, why am I always cracking up at your posts? You kill me. How funny! Thanks for the shootout. You made my day. Now I'm off to play doggie with 'the boys' they found an old leash laying around. Wait! I'm a good mother. I would never let that happen . . . or would I?
    Marsha
    A Differentiated Kindergarten

  3. Jill Sloothaak says

    Doggie! YES! My students do this ALL THE TIME. Every year, we have to have a class discussion about how only boys and girls are allowed in the classroom and animals have to stay outside. There should be no barking, growling, chirping, roaring, hissing, or any other animal noise in my classroom. I just can't handle it. The way you described it is so spot on and so funny!
    And, yes….Marsha's idea is genius. Love it!! Thanks for sharing!

    Jill
    ABCs and Polkadots

  4. Carolyn Kisloski says

    LOVE this idea- and yep- Doggie and King and Queen here in Upstate NY, too- must be universal. I love how some just lead others around so confidently on the leash like it is just what you do- and others sort of look at you like they know it isn't really right. Oh my goodness- What a great way to practice spelling sight words! YAY! Thank you!
    Carolyn
    Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together

  5. Angela says

    Dang it! I got rid of my links because my students just tied each other up with them. Now I wish I had them because that is sheer genius!!

  7. Melissa Machan says

    I have those links shoved in the back of some cabinet. Time to get them back out. Thanks for sharing and loved the recess games they play. You are not alone 🙂

    Melissa
    First Grade Smiles

  8. Bethany J. says

    My kinders also like to link them all together and attempt to play jump rope for about two seconds before I remind them they need inside behavior. 🙂 They also link them all together and then are around the whole room, caught on chairs and kids, and backpacks. I love it. On a separate note, one of my kinders writes in her journal on Mondays and more than once she writes about playing puppy with her sister…. in which the picture and her explanation is that one leads the other around. cracks.me.up. Happy Sunday with a Monday holiday night! I love these nights too. 🙂

    Bethany
    Polka Dots & Sticky Glue Spots

  10. csweb says

    I can't remember where I got the idea (Lord knows I didn't think of it!), but I have the students link up a card with a number, the number word, and the corresponding ten frame, and then put them in numerical order (1-20).
    I'm sure there are many more ways to use these! Let's hear more ideas so I can steal them!

  11. Mrs. C says

    Leashes and necklaces and I thought that was it! Go figure!

  12. marianne says

    I usually have my linking chains hidden in a cupboard because they drive me crazy, what with all the barking dogs a and such. Thought I was the only one.

  13. marianne says

    I usually have my linking chains hidden in a cupboard because they drive me crazy, what with all the barking dogs a and such. Thought I was the only one.

  14. Mrs. B. says

    In ELA centers you can use them to connect word cards with syllables, compound words, synonyms/antonyms, prefixes/suffixes, etc. They make plain old cards SO MUCH more interesting, lol.

  15. Amanda says

    My kiddos were just playing the game Doggie with the links during inside recess today. You are not alone! Thanks for sharing an educational way to use these links! 🙂

    Amanda
    First Grade Garden

  16. Love to Learn says

    I cannot tell you how relatable your posts are! I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one who only sees students use those link-its as looong necklaces or dog leashes (hopefully for only 10 seconds before I notice!). I am so glad to find out that they serve a greater purpose that I did not know!

    Love to Learn

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