In the ten years I have spent teaching young children between the ages of 3 to 5, one of the most important secrets I have discovered is how to teach recognizing numbers. Some children will just pick this up from exposure to numbers in their environment. However, for most children this a long process, and …
1 to 1 correspondence is super important! In the ten years I have taught young children between the ages of 3 and 5, I have found that 1:1 correspondence is a foundation for all the skills that come after it: adding, subtracting, finding one more and less, and lots of other things too. Without 1 …
Puppets act like magic on young children! They can be the difference between children rolling around on the floor during a carpet time, or sitting in captivated awe! Children are usually far more excited by puppets than they are by humans, and the research suggests this also. But how can you use puppets in teaching? …
In ten years of teaching maths to children aged between 3 to 5 (as well as having three kids at home myself), I have found one of the most important foundation skills is rote counting. But what exactly is it? Rote counting is saying numbers in order. The numbers are not linked to counting objects …
Ten frames are really popular now in early education, and with good reason. They provide a really simple framework for children to develop lots of different maths skills, including counting, adding, number bonds, patterns, creating arrays, subetising, and many more! Ten frames are really good for children to start visualising maths in lots of different …
All children are passionately excited by bubbles! They create that kind of awe and wonder that is a beautiful thing to witness. They spark curiosity, generate talk, and get children moving, communicating and thinking. Of course blowing bubbles out of pots is one thing; bubble wands are great too! However, there are also a huge …
Getting maths into the outdoors is one of the biggest concerns many practitioners have. It is probably the thing I am asked about the most where maths is concerned. This post is by far the most comprehensive quantity of high-quality outdoor maths activities for children aged 3 to 6 that you will be able to …
In preschool fun and engaging circle games can teach many crucial skills that children can then use to deepen their play. Eye contact, turn-taking, understanding emotions, and listening are all key skills in life. The benefits of short, snappy, fun circle games that really work cannot be overestimated. However, there seem to be so many …
Geoboards are one of the ultimate resources. They are great for even extremely young children. One of my daughters could use one brilliantly when she was only one. They can be used from that age until they are probably at least eight or nine. They develop great fine motor, concentration, and a range of imagination …
One of the core skills that makes up the foundation of early math, is the ability to rote count. Rote counting is simply saying the numbers in order, usually starting with one, e.g. 1,2,3,4,5 etc. It does not mean counting objects, or counting actions, although it is connected to these skills. It just means saying …