Kindergarten is an anxious, yet exciting year for both you and your child. He doesn't need to rely on your guidance as much and gains a degree of independence. You still have a tremendous influence on your child, however, when he is not at school. Use part of this time to help your child with school work, especially math, especially if it confuses and intimidates him. Have him practice mathematical concepts and processes in a variety of creative, engaging and enjoyable ways.
Step 1
Make a pattern of apples, bananas and oranges on a table. Give your child one of each and tell her to continue the pattern. Then have her sort the fruits into separate piles. Ask her to count the total number of fruits in each pile.
Step 2
Draw six circles and eight squares on paper. Ask your child if there are more circles or squares. If he has trouble, have him count the circles, followed by the squares, and ask him again. Tell him to draw more circles or cross off squares until the number of circles and squares equal each other.
Step 3
Ask your kindergartener to count forward to 30 by ones, twos, and fives, and backward from 10 by ones. Give her paper and have her write the numbers 1 through 30. Correct her constructively if she writes any number improperly and ask her to erase and rewrite it.
Step 4
Fill part of a cup with pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. Tell your child to take out one coin at a time, identify it and make a separate pile for each type of coin. Have him count the total number of coins in each pile after drawing all of them out of the cup.
Step 5
Place a pile of cereal pieces on a table. Separate three pieces and have your child count them out loud. Ask her to add four more pieces from the pile and count the new total out loud. Write "3 + 4 = 7" on paper and compare it to what she did with the cereal pieces. Explain that the plus sign means add. Then tell her to eat two of the pieces and count the new total. Write "7 -- 2 = 5" on paper and compare it her eating the cereal pieces. Explain that the minus sign means subtract or take away. Have her complete more addition and subtraction problems, using only single digit numbers.
Step 6
Walk around your house or outdoors with your child and ask him to identify objects that are taller than, longer than or shorter than other objects. Carry a ruler and teach him how to measure specific objects in inches. Also, have him hold two objects at a time and identify which is heavier or lighter.
Step 7
Draw circles, rectangles, squares and triangles on paper. Ask your kindergartener to identify the shapes out loud. Have her find or think of objects around the house that have circular, rectangular, square and triangular shapes.
Tips and Warnings
- Encourage and praise your child often during the learning process. Do not criticize him harshly if he is unable to do what you ask.
Things You'll Need
- Fruit
- Paper
- Pencil
- Coins
- Ruler
References
- "Core Knowledge Sequence"; Core Knowledge Foundation; 2010
- California Board of Education: Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools
- Pascagoula School District: Kindergarten Math Teaching Strategies
