Math Suggestions for Kindergarten Parents

As I am working with some of the kindergarten students, I see some of them counting orally to ten or more correctly when they start with the number one.  As I ask them randomly what a number is when I hold up a number card, they say the wrong number.  A suggestion for parents is to put the numbers on cards and randomly pick a card for your child to identify the number.  Mix them up and continue to do this until your child can recognize the numbers when they are randomly held up by you.  Start with the numbers 0 through 5 then in a week or so add 6 through 10.  Work on this for several weeks.  Also have them put the cards in counting order when you give them to your child mixed up. Continue to add several more numbers each week gradually working your way up to 50 by January and then up to 100 by the end of the school year.

When asked what number comes after 7, your child should be able to say 8  and not have to start with the number one and count on until they get to the number 8.  This is a concept that requires practice,especially when filling in the missing numbers.  It becomes more difficult when you get to numbers beyond ten, twenty, thirty, and so forth.  With practice your child will be able to fill in random missing numbers without counting on to find it.

You may also lay out a card, have your child tell you the number and then have them place that many coins, or beans or any object you choose to use next to the card.  Have them count as they place the objects down to reinforce one to one correspondence.  You can do two cards and then ask which number is greater.  They can line up the objects with one number in the top row, the other number underneath, and the objects lined up for each card.  This will let them see which number has more objects and is therefore the greater number.  You can also ask which number is less.

Which number comes before is a difficult concept for students to grasp.  They want to give you the number that comes after because they are use to counting on and not counting back.  Choose a number card and ask which number comes before or which number comes after.  The child can take the set of numbers and put them in counting order to see which number is before if they struggle with this concept.  These are just a few suggestions.  You can also put 5 or 6 numbers in order and then randomly remove 2 or 3 of them.  Mix the cards removed up and then have your child put them in the correct place for counting order in the row of cards.  This is fill in the missing number which is another difficult concept.

I have sets of number cards that go from 0 to 100 printed on cardstock paper.  If you would like a set to practice with your child, please contact me and I will send them home for you to use and keep.  You may email me at mileys@fmtigers.org or phone me at (717) 349-2513 ext. 3034.

Have fun and help your child become a better mathematician.