Number 18 tracing worksheet (eighteen)
Practise writing 18: trace the digits in dotted lines, trace the word eighteen, and finish on a blank copy line. Edit the page below if you want more or fewer rows.
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How to write 18
Write 18 as a 1 followed by an 8. The 8 can be made by drawing an S-shaped curve down and then closing the second loop, or by stacking two circles. Start at the top, curve left and down, cross in the middle, curve right and around, and return to the start. Keep the top loop slightly smaller than the bottom one so the digit stays balanced.
Children often draw 8 as two separate circles stacked on top of each other, which is a perfectly good first attempt, or they leave the loops open so it looks like an S. Encourage a single flowing line when they are ready. The 8 can also be confused with 3 or 0 when the loops are uneven. Point out the crossing in the middle.
Say it and spell it: eighteen
Eighteen has only one t: e-i-g-h-t-e-e-n, eight letters. It does not double the t from eight, because the two parts overlap, so children who write eightteen have added an extra letter. The tricky part is the silent gh. Say it like a drumbeat, ay-teen, and then spell it letter by letter while pointing to the silent gh.
What 18 means
18 is one ten and 8 ones. Put ten counters in a row and eight more underneath: the first digit tells how many tens, and the second tells how many ones are left over.
18 comes right after 17 and right before 19. Counting back from 18 goes 18, 17, 16, 15. 18 is an even number: you can share it into two equal groups of 9, with none left over.
Number partners are pairs that add up to 18, such as 1 + 17, 5 + 13, 9 + 9. The written word has 8 letters: e-i-g-h-t-e-e-n. Say the number, trace the digits, then trace the word on the number-and-word preset to connect the symbol with its spelling.
Counting ideas for 18
Eighteen is nine pairs, so hand out eighteen socks, mittens, or shoes and count them in twos. Draw an eighteen-hole mini golf course on paper and trace 18 at the last hole. If you have space, line up eighteen steps and count each footfall aloud.
A practice tip for 18
The 8 is one of the harder digits, so do not rush. Trace the 18 on one row, then practise the 8 alone on the number 8 page. Moving between the pages lets a child build smooth loops, then put the 1 back in front.
What is on this 18 worksheet
The default sheet has two rows of 18 18 18, then the word eighteen, then a single 18 to write on its own. Each entry gets a dotted model and a blank copy line underneath, so the page fills in the order: practise the digits, trace the word, and try the number without a model. The Digits only button keeps just the three number rows, which suits a short session. The Number and word button prints 18 and eighteen on their own.
The Count up to 18 button loads the numbers 10 to 18 as a short counting run, which is a good way to see where 18 fits in the sequence. Every entry is editable, so you can type your own list, such as 18 18 18 followed by the numbers on either side of 18. The preview shows every page, and the PDF matches it, so check the spacing before you print at actual size.
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Number 18 questions
Why does eighteen have only one t?
Eighteen is eight plus teen, and the two words share the t. So there is a single t before ee-n. Many children add an extra one, which is a common spelling mistake.
Can my child draw the 8 as two circles?
Yes, as a first step. When the circles are steady, encourage one flowing line, tracing the S-shaped path on the number 8 sheet.
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