Some Formality is added to the K Classroom

This week we added some games that had steps and rules; the children grabbed a number of objects and then counted and "showed their count", practiced writing numbers as they rolled the dice, and looked into bags and counted the objects. We learned that"taking inventory" means counting to make sure there's enough. This is a group of children that is particularly interested in writing their numbers!

Until Next Time,
Michele

remembering and making your own!

K Mathematicians Write Number Books

 The kindergartners listened to a counting book by Anno, and on every page that there was a number there was a group of objects. We started to write our own books, creating groups of objects for each number. There were stickers, stamps, markers, and crayons to make the books extra exciting. We are excited to share our books with the four year olds soon!

Until Next Time,
Michele

The Mathematicians Take Attendance, Group Each Other And Make the Number 4

 A new way to take attendance in the classroom, writing your name in response to a question. The question is "where do you belong?"

 We grouped each other this week, by all different attributes; velcro straps on shoes or laces, colors, eye color, and other groups. The children made up the groups and then we guessed what the "rule" was.

Make the Number 4! with two OR more children.

Our play was a great success! I was so busy I didn't have time to take pictures. 

Until Next Time,

Michele

these children needed two photos to fit! 5 children making the number 4.

More About Numbers and Working Together

 We read the book The Napping House and then created a poster so we could count how many...legs, arms, feet, eyes, ears, etc. It was a good exercise in using a "reference" as well as counting a lot! We worked together to create the poster.

Until Next Time,
Michele

Learning About Numbers and Attributes

We continued to follow the routines of our kindergarten math group. The Counting Jar was added to our workshop time, and the children visit it independently and count the items in the jar and write their answer. We tried dot to dots and number coloring pages, and made our own dot to dots. We started writing numbers in our number books. The focus and motivation of kindergartners is inspiring!

Until Next Time,
Michele

we described a button and discussed "attributes" then matched buttons by attributes

creating dot to dots with stickers and kept track of the count

how am I grouping the buttons?

Learning the Routine and Exploring Materials

The kindergarten math class met for a few sessions this week. We learned that everyday has a routine, beginning with attendance, then workshop time, then a check in time. There was a lot of free play time with materials that will be used formally later, and sharing of ideas and working together. We spent time outside collecting objects; some collected a "dozen" or a "baker's dozen" or "half a dozen" and some just collected a whole bunch.

from the "math dreams" activity, we learned a lot about what the children know already and what we can work on with them. I noticed a lot of creative problem solvers, number writers, and curious and ready learners!

searching for the right items to collect

half a dozen!

Until Next Time,
Michele