There is so much that kindergartners are expected to know and do at such a young age, but when it comes down to it, they are still kids. They need to move, they need to be silly, and they need to have fun. So rather than just teaching the curriculum from a book. I am always trying to incorporate hands on and interactive ways for them to learn. In math, I started do daily stations called BUILD (Buddy Games, Using iPads, Independent Work, Learning about Numbers, and Doing Math with Mrs. Rehder). This allows the students to have a different hands on math focus every day of the week, along with our daily math lesson.
Our biggest focus lately has been learning and recognizing those tricky teens! P.S. They are tricky because kids want to say, oneteen, twoteen, threeteen, etc.).
Here are some ways that we have been learning:
Number Recognition:
We use wiki sticks to show different teen numbers and really focus on the direction that each number goes, as well as which number comes first and which number comes second!
Memory Match:
For this game the students first have to put the numbers 0-20 in order. Then they have match up the corresponding dots with each number. After they are done with both parts, they can find a partner who has been checked off and flip a set of cards over to play memory match (finding a number and dots that match).
Work on Writing:
We have written the numbers in paint, in sand, and in clay. The helps us see the number and create the numbers in various ways.
Singing and Dancing:
For tricky teens we have a rap about how numbers in the teens they start with a one! We put actions to it to get their bodies moving and grooving and recognizing those tricky teens! Check out our Tricky Teen Rap! It helps us remember that numbers in the teens, start with a 1!
