FM.I.107 SORTS PICTURE CARDS, CHOICE OF 9

In matching exercises, the child is given the objects or pictures one by one to place with their matching pairs.

In sorting activities, the child is given all the objects or pictures to be matched at once, and when he has placed one, he must go on to place another without prompting. He himself must initiate all the ‘turns’ in the game.

Sorting activities are important in helping a child to learn to work independently, without the constant presence of an adult.

How to Assess

Materials: A lot to board with 9 pictures and 9 matching cards.

Method: Place the lotto board on the table and put all the cards in a pile to one side. Say ‘Put the pictures on the same pictures’.

Move a short distance away from your child. Occasional encouraging smiles or words are fine, but do not give any direct instructions.

Score plus if your child completes the activity with at least 8 of the 9 pieces correctly placed.

How to Teach

It is important that your child knows that you will, in time, come back to look and admire.

Start by giving him just 2 cards to place. Say ‘You put these on while I go and do such-and-such’. Praise him if he has done so; if not, repeat your direction more precisely – ‘Put flower on flower and train on train’– and move away again.

Gradually build up the number of pieces you give him, and make your verbal reminders more general. ‘Do some more’ is a useful reminder. ‘Have you finished yet?’ can work well too.

If your child will soon start school, you could teach him a way to signal that he has finished, using words (such as ‘finished’) or gestures (such as a raised hand) according to his language ability.

Keep extending your child until he can put all the cards in position with no more than an encouraging smile or word, and can signal to you that it is time for you to look.

Playtime and Round-the-house Activities

Listen carefully to the number of directions you are giving your child during the day, and think about whether he really needs so much help and close attention. During activities that you know he can do, begin to move away, both physically and metaphorically, prompting him gently from a distance when needed. Try to convey to your child that you are confident that he will do just as well without your close attention as he does with it.

For practising sorting, all kinds of materials can be used. Any that you used to teach matching can be used now to encourage independent activity. You will find more ideas under Sequence FM.J, where matching and sorting skills are used to teach colour, shape and size.

Once your child has completed this sequence, he is ready to learn to match letters and words, as described in FM.J.117 and FM.J.118.