Phone Number Practice

We have been working away on the All About Me books I made back in November (Check out my post here).  My kids really like these books.  We have been completing them about 3 times a week.  Eventually, I want them to work on them independently, but for the first couple weeks, we have been completing them during a small group activity.  To work on learning our phone numbers, I began by writing in their phone numbers and having them match each number in order.  I also had to create a master copy of everyone's phone numbers so I don't get confused and teach them the wrong thing! After the first couple days, I erased the last number (I used overhead markers on the laminated page, so they wipe off easily). 


My plan is to continue to gradually fade out the numbers until my students' have the whole phone number memorized.  `

I also downloaded this awesome (FREE) app called "Fake-A-Call" where kids get to practice dialing their phone number (without them accidentally calling their parents for real during the school day!).

Here is a screenshot of the keyboard.  I have my kids practice dialing their phone number, and then let them press "call."  You can set it up to have a fake person answer, but I usually just set it up so it rings with no-one answering.  I feel like having a fake person answer may just confuse them.  Eventually, I want to set it up so they can actually call their parents from my phone and have a brief conversation.  It is so hard to get everything covered during a day's work...academics, communication, behavior management, and life skills.  Whew!  I'm pooped...how is it only Tuesday?