Is It Really Only the Beginning? I Don't think so!



Beginning number concepts provide students with a strong foundation for all higher mathematics concepts.  Those number and counting games that we do with our "itty bitties" as toddlers, give them the early skills that they will need to start learning the concepts that will turn them in to our engineers and physicists of tomorrow.

I have seen first hand what a lack of teaching the basics can do to students.  Three years ago I was reassigned for four months to teach 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math in the mornings.  In the afternoon I was back in my Kinder classroom.  I was shocked at how these students knew every strategy in the book for solving problems, but when they were actually asked to explain what the problem was asking and why the strategy worked......they had NO CLUE!  We had to teach them how to THINK!  I was lucky because my Superintendent is a former math teacher and mechanical engineer.  He gave me all the support that I could ask for and would actually come in and join us for some of our activities. The students saw that we both placed importance on their learning and they soon caught on.

I think that Debbie Diller is right on when she goes through and discusses activities for Kindergarten.  Most teachers understand that in Kindergarten you are working with beginning number concepts.  I think what often gets overlooked is that even in older grades (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and even sometimes further up in grades), many students still need reinforcement in beginning number concepts.  Many teachers "skip over" these skills thinking that their students should "already know that".  They jump right over the "whys" and start on the "how to" lessons.

I have created a some items that hopefully you can use.

Compare a Bug

This is a variation of War/Battle.  Students turn over one of their cards.  They say their number and then spin to see who gets to keep the cards.  If they spin less, then the person with less keeps the cards.  The spinner adds a twist that keeps the kids asking for more.  I add spinners to lots of my games and the kids never seem to tire of playing the game.  Try it with your class and see if it adds to the excitement.

Another item that I had already made and posted about in the spring was my Missing Part Cards.

Missing Part Cards

These cards are based on an activity from Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally, 7th Edition, (Texas Edition) by Van de Walle, Karp, and Bay-Williams.  This book is a must for every teacher.  I get so many ideas from this book that I could not live without it.  It also lets you see where the skills you are working with now will go in future grades.

The next activity is probably better suited for 2nd grade.  Since I will be moving to 2nd in the fall, I am trying to create some activities that will work in 2nd.  I absolutely adored Fran's My Pattern Book. (Fran is one of those "Rock Star" teachers that really gets my ideas flowing!) I soooooo wanted to use this idea with my 2nd grade students.  So I developed a My NUMBER Pattern Book.

My Number Pattern Cards and Book

Another activity that I created to help my students to count money was "Count to $1.00".  In this activity students will use a hundreds chart to help them count their money.  Let's say they spin a nickel on their first spin.  They would place a nickel on 5.  On their second turn, they spin a dime.  They would then place their dime on 15.  The students continue playing until they reach $1.00.  After playing this several times, I can see the students starting to find the patterns on the hundreds chart.  Since I have not taught 2nd grade in a LONG while, I hope my prediction will be accurate.

Count to 1 Dollar
Count to $1.00
I want to thank all of the FABULOUS teachers that are allowing us to follow in their greatness.  Our leaders on this journey are definitely some of the world's best.  I only hope that the activities I create will help someone in some small way to have a better and easier time teaching the foundation skills to our students.  Please go to Kindergarten Crayons to find links to all of the WONDERFUL ideas and printables that everyone is sharing.

Kindergarten Crayons  

Enjoy and keep on "rockin' "!