Math Their Way
Your child will be using a special kind of mathematical program this year designed to help your child learn a wide range of mathematical concepts as well as insuring knowledge of basic Arithmetic skills. This program is based on current research evaluating the most effective ways to teach young children mathematics. This method stresses real-life mathematical experiences rather than pages and pages of abstract drill. The children become actively involved with concrete materials and make discoveries using tiles, pattern blocks, unifix cubes, geoboards, mirrors, collections of buttons, bottle caps, etc., as well as a variety of measuring devices for comparing weight, length and volume. Over the school year the children will work with pattern, sorting and classifying, graphing, measurement, addition and subtraction, probability, geometry, place value, and problem solving. The first few weeks will be a period of free exploration in our mathematics program. Each child will have the opportunity to freely explore many of the materials available in the program to determine each material’s unique possibilities and limitations, to spontaneously discover and explore patterns, special relations, balance and classifications. During this period the children become familiar with the learning materials, observing likenesses and differences in texture, color, size, shape, weight and number. They share discoveries and ideas with one another and learn to share the classroom space and materials. During this time we will be assessing each child’s level of skill and observe how the children interact with the various materials and with one another. To encourage the development of the appropriate vocabulary, we will help the children to put their ideas and discoveries clearly into words. We will be send similar notes in our kindergarten newsletter to keep you informed on our mathematics program. We will suggest activities which you might enjoy doing with your child at home which would reinforce your child’s school experiences.
The following suggestions would supplement your child’s free exploration work in mathematics: ·
Encourage your child to make a collection. It could be a collection of stamps or shells or rocks or nuts or bolts or
anything else. Talk with your child about his or her collection. Compare the sizes, shapes, colors and textures.
Count small groups of objects such as all the small ones, or the round ones, or the two-tone colored ones. Put out three or four of the objects and describe one of them. See if your child can select the object you are describing.
Collect 10-15 empty jars of various sizes and shapes. Set a dishpan or large pot of water outside and let your child explore the jars and compare the volumes by pouring water from one jar to another. Select a small jar and have your child guess how many small jars of water it will take to fill the largest jar.
We look forward to an exciting time exploring, discovering and discussing our learning in the area of mathematics.
Your child will be using a special kind of mathematical program this year designed to help your child learn a wide range of mathematical concepts as well as insuring knowledge of basic Arithmetic skills. This program is based on current research evaluating the most effective ways to teach young children mathematics. This method stresses real-life mathematical experiences rather than pages and pages of abstract drill. The children become actively involved with concrete materials and make discoveries using tiles, pattern blocks, unifix cubes, geoboards, mirrors, collections of buttons, bottle caps, etc., as well as a variety of measuring devices for comparing weight, length and volume. Over the school year the children will work with pattern, sorting and classifying, graphing, measurement, addition and subtraction, probability, geometry, place value, and problem solving. The first few weeks will be a period of free exploration in our mathematics program. Each child will have the opportunity to freely explore many of the materials available in the program to determine each material’s unique possibilities and limitations, to spontaneously discover and explore patterns, special relations, balance and classifications. During this period the children become familiar with the learning materials, observing likenesses and differences in texture, color, size, shape, weight and number. They share discoveries and ideas with one another and learn to share the classroom space and materials. During this time we will be assessing each child’s level of skill and observe how the children interact with the various materials and with one another. To encourage the development of the appropriate vocabulary, we will help the children to put their ideas and discoveries clearly into words. We will be send similar notes in our kindergarten newsletter to keep you informed on our mathematics program. We will suggest activities which you might enjoy doing with your child at home which would reinforce your child’s school experiences.
The following suggestions would supplement your child’s free exploration work in mathematics: ·
Encourage your child to make a collection. It could be a collection of stamps or shells or rocks or nuts or bolts or
anything else. Talk with your child about his or her collection. Compare the sizes, shapes, colors and textures.
Count small groups of objects such as all the small ones, or the round ones, or the two-tone colored ones. Put out three or four of the objects and describe one of them. See if your child can select the object you are describing.
Collect 10-15 empty jars of various sizes and shapes. Set a dishpan or large pot of water outside and let your child explore the jars and compare the volumes by pouring water from one jar to another. Select a small jar and have your child guess how many small jars of water it will take to fill the largest jar.
We look forward to an exciting time exploring, discovering and discussing our learning in the area of mathematics.