How to Use What You Have: Counting
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We’ve adopted a phrase.
Use what we have to boost what we know.
Could mean one of two things.
Use the resources and items we have to learn something new.
Or
Use the resources and items we have to deepen or reinforce knowledge we learned previously.
Today, my mind is on counting!
Everywhere I look in my home there’s numbers—groups and sets. That’s how I want my children to understand numbers, counting—as part of every day. Last week I recorded a workshop - Math Never Tasted So Good—for the Keep Calm & Homeschool On Conference. I love encouraging families to help their children see math in the world. I reflected on the portion of the workshop which focused on counting.
Counting with little learners.
Counting crackers, rocks, trains, or whatever exists in the learner’s environment today leads to understanding of set notation, number operations, and more in the years to come.
How can I use what I have to foster or reinforce this skill?
Use Real. A vested interest sweetens the learning pot. If you think about it, this is true for adults as well. When you want to learn something or have something to gain, the motivation raises the need to master the skill. Where there is an interest or gain, there’s reason to learn. Find out what matters to your children and start there. Think cars, crackers, acorns, crayons, whatever can be counted or made into groups.
Skills
Count to five by one.
Write those numbers in order.
Make piles (sets or groups) of one, two, three, four, and five.
Count to ten by one.
Write those numbers in order.
Make piles (sets or groups) of ten.
Count to twenty by one.
Write those numbers in order.
Count by two to twenty.
Write those numbers in order.
Make piles (sets or groups) of ten and use those groups to count by tens.
Use dimes to count by ten.
Count by ten to one hundred.
Write those numbers in order.
Use nickels to count by five.
Count by five to one hundred.
Write those numbers in order.
Count by 100.
Keep it Real Activities
Count the oranges in the two pound bag.
Count the bananas in a bunch.
Count a specific number of carrots to clean and cook for a meal.
Count cars as they are put away for the day.
Set the table - practice one-to-correspondence and counting table guests.
Count the slices in a pizza.
Count the tiles across the kitchen floor.
Use snack crackers to make piles of two. Count by two.
Make a number scavenger hunt.
Play hopscotch - write the numbers and then count while hopping.
Counting and Reading Aloud. Counting books have cycled in and out of our home in our learning seasons with littles. Decades as little learners intentional about conquering counting concepts have helped to grow our list of favorites. Noticing some of our favorites are disappearing from the library shelves, I have intentionality purchased copies to add to our home library so we don't lose our loves.
How Many Snails? Rich, bold vibrant colors invite little learners to jump in and count! Though counting is the main skill reinforced, attributes, following directions, and processing fair well, too. One of our favorites! Author: Paul Giganti, Jr.
The M&M Counting Book. The familiar candies on the front draw readers to the content. Once opened, this book teaches counting through 12, counting sets, and beginning addition and subtraction. Author: Barbara Barbieri McGrath
Counting is for the Birds. The rhyming text makes this brilliantly illustrated counting-to-twenty book an all-time favorite of ours. Author: Frank Mazzola, Jr.
Cardinal Numbers: An Ohio Counting Book. Counting 1-14 with beautiful illustrations and real-world word problems on the last pages, this book is one of many in the Sleeping Bear Press series. A favorite for older children, too, as side bars on each page offer additional opportunities for curious learners. Author: Marcia Schonberg
Great Estimations. An intriguing look at estimating as an advanced counting technique. Great photography, fun examples, and helpful hints for counting objects in large numbers. Great for older learners, too! Author: Bruce Goldstone.
The Coin Counting Book. Counting takes another journey into the world of coin recognition and value. Great for beginner coin counters who have a piggy bank of coins waiting to be counted. Another of our favorites due to the interest most kids have in money. Author: Rozanne Lanczank Williams.
Eating Pairs: Counting Fruits and Vegetables by Two. Reading and learning odds and evens go hand-in-hand with this unique counting book. We love that the numbers are written down the side bar of each page, begging for us to count along...again! Author: Sarah L. Schuette.
10 Little Rubber Ducks. Fictionalized counting story of a real-life event presented alongside the classic Eric Carle collage art. Bright illustrations and a intriguing story line. Great addition to the home library, for sure! Author: Eric Carle.
Make a Counting Book. Grab an old magazine, weekly grocery ad, or catalog, cut out groups of objects and make a counting book.
