Math
Math Programs:
The math program that Colonial School District uses for Kindergarten instruction is Turk Math Investigations. In this math program much of instruction is focused on hands-on learning. If you were to come into the classroom during math time children would be playing math games, exploring with math tools, and would be practicing skills taught during group instruction. The key to this math program is providing children with the skills needed to learn a specific skill and demonstrating how to use these skills several times. Then children are given the time to explore and really try to use these skills. As children are exploring teachers walk around and help individuals grasp and extend concepts. The Units are taught in the following order:
Unit 1:
Unit 2:
Unit 3:
Unit 4:
Unit 5: This unit delves into shapes. We go over what a shape is and we start instruction off with 2-Dimensional shapes. Children learn to identify these shapes by name, how many corners, and how many sides. We also explore shapes in a different way: by looking for them in our world! For instance what shapes is a house made of? A square for a base and a triangle for a roof. To aid this portion of instruction children practice making things they have seen out of ovals, squares, circles, rectangles, rhombuses’/diamonds, and triangles. Then we move instruction to 3-Dimensional shapes, not so much focusing on their names but on their characteristics.
Unit 6: This unit really focuses on addition and subtraction. It provides children with the basics previously touched on in Unit 4. Then it extends the concept of adding or subtracting 1. In this unit children will practice using addition notation (addition sentences) such as 4 + 3 = 7. They will also work on using subtraction notation (subtraction sentences) 5 – 4 = 1. This can be a hard concept for children to grasp and we spend a lot of time re-teaching, reviewing, and exploring.
Some helpful links to aid the instruction in class include:
Shape practice:
This is a great site to help your child remember a shape with its name. When clicking to the link make sure the level is set to shapes, and the game is set to the closed door.
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=73
This game helps children to recognize shapes as well as colors. Children click on a color with the paint brush and then click on the shape the boy tells you to with the brush.
http://www.fisher-price.com/us/littlepeople/section.asp?section=SHAPES
Help bunny find all the shapes she needs! Click on all the shapes hat bunny asks you to in every picture!
http://www.storyplace.org/preschool/activities/shapesonact.asp
Comparing Measurements:
This game is great to help children organize items and compare them based on height or width. Children also put them in order by height. http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=compare-order7
Addition and Subtraction:
This is a great site to help your child learn how to write using an addition sentence. You count the bugs and then type in the number.
http://www.dositey.com/2008/addsub/addex1.htm
This site has lady bugs with spots children count the spots on the ladybugs to find what number is missing in a number sentence and also what the answer is for a problem.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch1.shtml
This site provides children a game where they can pick if they want to work on addition, subtraction, or both. They count the dots on the ladybugs to finish the problem.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/chi.shtml
Patterning:
Use the paints on the palette to select a color. Then click on a bead to color it. You can pick a six bead pattern or a 12 bead pattern. When you finish a pattern click ‘check’ to check your work.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=beads
Numbers:
In this game help Lecky catch the correct number of balloons that the sun says! Click on the balloons for him to catch them.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=count-with-lecky7b
Catch fish by clicking on them with the net. Match the number of fish you click on to the number in the fish bowl. Then click “Check” to check your work.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=ftank2
Count how many animals are in each picture then click on the correct number. Then to continue on the game click on the “Go” button.
http://www.learningplanet.com/sam/cyc/index.asp
Practice putting numbers in order by clicking on the barrel with the correct number.
http://www.learningplanet.com/act/123order.asp
This site offers children an opportunity to practice their counting. Count how many fish and then click on the correct number.
http://www.primarygames.com/math/fishycount/index.htm
