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 …
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 …
The concept of symmetry is something that young children can begin to explore through practical activities, even before they can really put into words what it is. It is definitely better to start with experimentation with objects, rather than give them symmetry worksheets, printables or folding pictures. What are the best symmetry activities for kids? …
Want to improve your kids’ math skills? Children really enjoy fun math circle games, and they develop lots of skills during them that they can then transfer and apply in their play and in their lives. Some of the best math circle games use puppets, songs, or simple props to bring them to life. Having …
Ever noticed that most counting songs count backwards? For example, in Five Little Men in a Flying Saucer, every time you sing a verse one man flies away. Or in Ten Fat Sausages every time you sing one sausage explodes!? For some reason the culture of counting songs is based primarily around the concept of …
Many of us will have experienced that sense of awe that a puppet can generate. Children are not always massively bothered about listening to what the grown up is about to say, but a puppet – well, that’s quite a different story! I really do find it like magic. They sit and stare when the …
Parachute games are one of the best ways for young children to learn a range of skills across the whole curriculum. They strengthen their hands by gripping, and they improve their coordination by the movements involved in the games. They develop their listening and attention, and learn to cooperate with others in a fun context. …
Children learn to count a bit like robots. This is certainly not a bad thing – it is just the way it is. You count with them as you go up stairs, or you count the clouds in the sky, or the cars going past, and always you are starting with one. This is all …
Ten frames are becoming one of the most widely used models to teach a range of strategies in early maths. Ten frames are a good tool because they allow children to visualise quantities within the context of ten. Our number system is based around the number ten, for the simple reason that we have ten …