Mathematics

 

The students will continue to learn about graphs and to tell which category has the most or least. I have been challenging the students to tell me how they know one category has more. I am amazed at how many of the students (JK and SK) know that some numbers are higher, more than, bigger than other numbers and they also know that some numbers are less or smaller than some numbers. For example, 8 is a higher number than 6 I was told by a JK student the other day.

 

The Kindergarten curriculum is very specific in the area of numeration and math. 
NS1.2 The students investigate concepts of quantity through identifying and comparing sets with more, fewer, or the same number of objects.
NS1.5 recogngize some quantitites without having to count, using a variety of tools, ten frames, dot plates, dice (e.g. composing or decomposing numbrs, subitizing).
 So even though your child may be able to count way beyond 10, I assess the student's mathematical  understanding about numbers from 1 to ten. To be able to tell me which numbers are bigger than a specific number and which numbers are smaller. An SK student may be asked to explain if the number is 7, how many more do I need to have 10?

 

In order to ensure many of the students have a better understanding of which number is bigger or smaller I have started to have them show the two graphing categories on two separate ten frames. This way all the students have a visual aid to assist them to understand 8 is more than 6.

 

In this example the students are able to visualize that 8 has more squares filled then the 6 does. Another way to visualize it is 8 only has 2 empty squares and 6 has 4 empty squares. Using a ten frame in this way the students can also visualize how many dots are needed to be added to the number 8 to make 10 and how many dots are needed to be added to 6 to make 10.