Find It From Carole Fullerton Subitizing is being able to tell the numbers in a set quickly, without counting. Being able to subitize is an important component of number fluency. There are two types of subtizing; perceptual and conceptual. Perceptual is the simplest, and we can expect children in Kindergarten to see two or three objects like dots and know instantly what it is. Conceptual is the ability to see two numbers within a larger set like four dots on a die can be two and two. I practice both types with my kindergarten students every day for at least five minutes during transitions. I also include lots of dice games in our daily math play and exploration activities. Here are just a few being used in our spring kindergarten term: Transition Games: Finger Flashes - I flash dot cards which I have made uniquely for  my students, beginning with simple familiar patterns like you see on dice and then larger numbers. ......

Subitizing With Dot Cards Subitizing means to instantly recognize a quantity without counting, is a foundation skill for students and listed as one of the six components for number sense. In Kindergarten students play with subitizing all year, beginning the first month of school. I begin with small numbers like three and four using dot cards in a small group of about six students. First I invite them to tell me the number, accepting all answers. I record the answers and then ask them how they figured out the number. Talking about their thinking is a great opportunity for students to learn from each other as they hear the many different ways that the number is figured out (2 + 1, 3+0, 1+1+1). As they gain experience I increase the complexity of the the dot card as well as the number of dots. Once students have mastered numbers to six, I change my format and use it as a pre-math warm-up and do finger flashes* with quick peaks at the number cards to build fluency.......

Math Fluency In An Outdoor Program This past year I focused on the core concepts in Kindergarten math using three primary access points; counting jar routine, daily math partner play and story problems. Our circle times were also infused with opportunities for the children to build numeracy through games, songs, read aloud, small group work and math talk. Although I do reference many math and literacy activities in my book  Outside Our Window: developing a primary nature program  I wanted to share some new activities that we do outdoors and a few of our indoor math activities. Counting Jar Framework  provided the children with regular opportunities to count objects, develop counting strategies like organizing, skip counting, touch and count, conservation and adding on. The children had access to counting mats to help with organization, subitizing and skip counting. Some examples were five and ten frames, repurposed m......

Happy Saturday Families!!! The children have been super busy enjoying having two ECE teachers and myself this past week. They have spent some time getting to know Ms. Jacklin and enjoying her gentle and playful approach to teaching. Like Ms. Sherry, Ms. Jacklin brings a wealth of experience to our classroom. When Seamless Kindergarten begins Ms. Jacklin and Ms. Sherry schedules will change to reflect before and after school hours. The change in weather will include a return to our outdoor learning. This week we will be enjoying field play as our first learning block and then transition into the classroom around 10am. Please dress your child in layers for this activity.  Our new show and tell schedule will include a shift in focus as we are integrating rhyme into this activity. Please choose an item with your child that together you can create a rhyming word as clues. I will  send home clothe bags each Friday for the following week's children's sharing. If your child misses the......

If you are looking for some fresh ideas for your spring math play here are a few that my students are really enjoying. We do math partner play twice a week and counting jars once. That leaves a day for math journals and a day for Family Board Games. We also do math play in the forest at least once a week.  I made my own number string cards and we do number talks during a transition once a day for about five minutes. As well, I just found a ten frame subitizing ppt on Pinterest with lots of of white space which I can project on my white board and write down their number combos after they turn and talk. Needless to say the children are super strong in math and more than ready for the rigor of grade one. Find It. This subitizing game is a freebie from BC educator Carole Fullerton. Her website has wonderful math learning activities and investigations. Patterning . The children shop the loose parts and create a few different patterns. Then they ......

Of course we needed a little Halloween fun! Loose Parts Play by Acacia Our google document for November is up and ready for you to add dates that you are available to go offsite or stay indoors for cooking. We are not cooking this upcoming week however we will be making mini pizza's the following week. Our community volunteer Donna will be away until December and I am looking for a replacement community volunteer. The November class calendar is prepped and ready to go home on Monday. Reflective Learning I have begun to conference with the children individually asking them to do a simple reflection upon their own learning beginning with math. I will send home a copy of the sheet for you and either post a video or photo on their e-portfolio connected to the reflection sheet.  I have sent home an invite to all families to join Freshgrade. If you have not received the invite please email me and I will resend. Freshgrade will be used to share student......

Like many of you I have begun to think about the changes to our day that will best support my learners. This means that conveying the sense of wellness, belonging and safety will be my most important consideration. I intend to use the kindergarten curriculum, an outdoor setting and a Reggio Inspired program to achieve these three goals. PLAY This may look quite different with the changes in the room and expectations due to COVID 19 as some of the children may not be comfortable being close to others depending on their experiences during the last five months. This means that I will create multiple play areas in the classroom for the children.  OUTDOOR We always spend part of our mornings offsite but this year I will be outdoors earlier this fall and for longer periods of time. Because I have been a nature teacher for many years I am comfortable in transferring my curriculum outdoors. However, I will prioritize outdoor play as I know this will support the three goals; wellness, bel......

I have refreshed our winter math shelves as the children will be exploring larger numbers and creating complex patterns like mandelas using loose parts. They will also play with number combinations to ten or more using the SumBlox wooden numbers and other loose parts like our counting sticks.                                 To build number sense with subitizing and numeral recognition I have introduced new games like Race to Twenty, Roll and Cover, Bump, Add One More and a variety of card games using dot numbers and numerals. We are also playing a hide and seek number game with our mini pocket chart which has been very popular with the children.. I have increased the quantities in our counting collections as many of the children have begun skip counting and are ready for larger numbers. The range will be from 10 to 100 to meet the comfort levels of all the children. I have decided to integrate art with ......