Mathematics
In Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, the children use manipulative materials in guided exploration of mathematical concepts: longer and shorter, how many, bigger and smaller. During the day, students might count crackers at snack time; count how many children take a bus to school on the Coming to School graph; or arrange balls of Play-Doh®. They meet either in whole groups or in half groups to explore these concepts. Using concrete materials (such as pattern blocks, geoboards, unifix cubes and Cuisenaire® rods), the children actively focus with their teachers, on a variety of mathematical concepts. Each year brings greater depth to the children’s understanding of mathematical study.
-
Counting games and songs are instrumental in teaching numbers in a fun and accessible way. Cooking can also bring math and science to life, as students ponder questions such as, “How many cups of flour do we need to make Play-Doh?” and “Is a cup the same size as a spoon?”
-
Pre-K mathematics includes the use of mathematical language and has children developing number sense; exploring one-to-one correspondence; ordering; comparing; predicting and estimating; sorting; and writing numbers. The students find mathematical experiences within the natural environment: the symmetry of a leaf, the effects of temperature change on water, and other such tangible real-world scenarios.
-
In our Dimensions curriculum from Singapore Math, Kindergarteners focus on an in-depth study of numbers from zero to 20, including composing and decomposing within that range; they also learn about shapes and measurement. Each topic is introduced, then thoughtfully developed, through the use of a variety of learning experiences, problem solving, student discourse, and application opportunities to promote confidence and proficiency. The combination of hands-on practice, in-depth exploration of topics, and mathematical variability in teaching methodology helps students to move toward mastery of and fluency with mathematical concepts.
