St Justin’s Primary School Newsletter

Learning and Teaching

Teaching Children to Count

Teaching children to count is a foundational aspect of early mathematics education. It sets the stage for more complex mathematical concepts and helps develop cognitive and problem-solving skills. Here are some effective strategies for teaching children to count, incorporating the stages of counting:

1. Count All

  • Use Everyday Objects: Utilize toys, blocks, or household items to count. For example, "Let's count how many apples are in this basket."
  • Storytime Counting: Incorporate counting into storytime. For instance, count the number of animals on a page.

2. Count On

  • Sing Counting Songs: Songs like "Five Little Ducks" or "Ten Green Bottles" help children learn to count in a fun way.
  • Number Lines: Use number lines to help children visualize the counting sequence. Ask them to start from a number other than one and count on.

3. Maintain Cardinality

  • Grouping Games: Play games where children group objects and count them once. For example, group blocks by color and count each group.
  • Use Counting Tools: Tools like abacuses or counting frames help children see and count objects without recounting.

4. Stable Order

  • Interactive Counting: Use interactive counting activities where children count objects in any order and see that the total remains the same.
  • Order Irrelevance: Mix up the order of objects and ask children to count them to reinforce that the order does not affect the total count.

5. Conservation

  • Spacing Activities: Arrange objects in different patterns and spaces (close together or far apart) and ask children to count them to show that the number remains the same.
  • Counting in Different Settings: Count objects in various settings (inside, outside, arranged in lines, or scattered) to reinforce the idea of conservation.

Additional Tips for Teaching Counting

  • Use Visual Aids: Charts, number cards, and visual aids help children connect numbers with quantities.
  • Incorporate Technology: Educational apps and online games can make counting interactive and engaging.
  • Encourage Participation: Involve children in activities that require counting, like setting the table or tidying up toys.
  • Praise and Encouragement: Provide positive reinforcement to build confidence and make counting a fun and rewarding experience.

Activities to Enhance Counting Skills

  1. Counting Games: Play games like "Hide and Seek" where children count before finding hidden objects.
  2. Craft Activities: Incorporate counting into craft activities, like counting beads for a necklace.
  3. Nature Walks: Count leaves, flowers, or pebbles during nature walks to integrate counting with outdoor activities.
  4. Role-Playing: Set up a pretend store and have children count money and items as they "shop."

By using these strategies and activities, children will develop a strong foundation in counting, preparing them for more advanced mathematical concepts in the future.

 

Laura Leung

Learning and Teaching