Starting a New School Year:

                                           Building Early Math Skills in Preschool & TK/K

        The first days of Transitional Kindergarten or any new grade are full of excitement, curiosity, and new routines. It's also the perfect time to introduce early math skills in playful, everyday ways. Before children begin adding and subtracting, they need a strong foundation in number sense—an understanding of what numbers mean and how they correlate to the world around them.

In the first weeks of school, we focus on:

• Counting and Cardinality – Knowing number names and counting objects.

• Sorting and Classifying – Grouping items by color, size, or shape.

• Recognizing Patterns – Finding what comes next in a sequence.

• Comparing Quantities – Talking about more, less, bigger, and smaller.

              

                   

          Reading picture books together is one of the best ways to naturally develop these skills. The rhythm, repetition, and visuals in early math books help children connect concepts to language and real-life experiences.

Here are a few great choices to start the year:

• Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews – Simple art and text encourage children to count and develop their creativity.

• Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh – Engaging story with counting forward and backward.

• Shapes, Shapes, Shapes by Tana Hoban – Real-life photos help children notice shapes all around them.

• Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin – A fun introduction to subtraction through song.

                                         

                                          

Tip for Families: Count, sort, and compare at home! Everyday tasks, such as setting the table, putting away groceries, or sorting laundry, are perfect for building early math skills.

The first few weeks of TK set the tone for the whole year—by mixing stories, hands-on exploration, and conversation, we help children see that math is everywhere.

                                                      Let's start counting!

Exploring Math in Nature

                                                   Measuring Our Way to Summer

           As the school year winds down, our TK Bunnies have been busy exploring math beyond the classroom! With the sunshine calling us outdoors, we’ve turned to nature to help us practice critical measurement skills. Using rocks, sticks, and shells collected during nature walks, the children compared lengths, counted units, and even made their own “nature rulers.” These hands-on experiences helped them understand concepts like longer/shorter, heavier/lighter, and more/less in meaningful ways.

      

          


                                                                

          Back inside, our dinosaur exploration took a mathematical twist! The Bunnies used their familiar math cubes to measure the “bones” of various dinosaurs we created. Without prompting, several of them began to calculate the perimeter of the dinosaur footprints, a moment of unexpected and delightful mathematical thinking in action.

                                       

      To keep the learning going at home, here are two picture books that pair perfectly with this kind of measuring fun:

📗 Just a Little Bit by Ann Tompert

       This charming story is about an elephant and a mouse trying to play on a seesaw, only to discover they need just a little bit more weight to balance. It introduces the concept of measurement through weight and balance, sparking discussion about heavier and lighter objects and how to compare them.

📙 Actual Size by Steve Jenkins

       The TK Bunnies loved this nonfiction book, which showcases animals at their actual size, from a gorilla’s hand to a giant squid’s eye. Children are fascinated by the illustrations and naturally begin comparing their own hands, feet, and arms to the animals in the book. It’s a perfect springboard for measuring and comparing lengths using cubes, sticks, or even their own bodies. Additionally, it sparks meaningful conversations about size, scale, and nature.

                                                                         

   

As always, math is everywhere, especially in nature. Let the outdoors be your child’s next classroom!

                                                                         Happy Summer!

Buggy Math Adventures in TK!

                                                        We're Going on A Bug Hunt!

Our youngest entomologists have been buzzing with excitement lately, and it's all thanks to our fascinating insect unit! We've discovered that these tiny creatures aren't just captivating to observe; they're also fantastic tools for building essential math skills.

For the past few weeks, the TK Bunnies have been busy putting on their observation hats and magnifying glasses to explore the world of insects through a mathematical lens. One of their favorite activities has been sorting insects by size. We've collected (or used toy replicas of) various insects, such as ladybugs, grasshoppers, and ants, and the children have eagerly compared them, creating groups of small, medium, and large bugs. This hands-on sorting not only reinforces their understanding of size vocabulary but also lays the foundation for data analysis. Our favorite book was "The Best Bug Parade" by Stewart Murphy, illustrated by Holly Keller. 

   

                                      

                                                                       

                                                                  

Next, it was time to go outside to practice our counting skills. Imagine a group of wiggling caterpillars! Counting the spots on a ladybug's back or the legs on a spider (don't worry, we stick to pictures for this!) becomes a much more engaging task when tied to these intriguing creatures. We've used one-to-one correspondence to count individual insects and even worked on counting sets of insects. Your little ones would enjoy "The Backyard Bug Book" by Lauren Davidson, my class did.

                                                                    

For a bit more of a challenge, we introduced the concept of measuring. Using non-standard units, such as linking cubes or small leaves, the children have been comparing the lengths of different insect models. "This grasshopper is five cubes long!" or "The beetle is shorter than this leaf!" These activities help develop their understanding of length and comparison in a meaningful way. 

                            

To further ignite their curiosity and integrate literacy with our math explorations, here are a few delightful picture books that pair perfectly with our insect math adventures:

• "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle: A classic for counting and the life cycle of a butterfly.
• "Ten Black Dots" by Donald Crews: While not specifically about insects, this book is wonderful for practicing counting sets of objects. Imagine the dots as spots on a ladybug!
• "Inch by Inch" by Leo Lionni: A charming story about a measuring worm that can inspire discussions about length.
• "Big Bug Little Bug" by Mem Fox: Perfect for reinforcing size vocabulary and comparisons.

Bringing the outside world into our math lessons has been a huge success. The children were more engaged, and abstract concepts such as size, counting, and measurement became much more concrete and fun when explored through the lens of these fantastic little creatures. We can't wait to see what other mathematical discoveries our insect unit will bring.

                                                          Happy Bug Hunting! 

Loose Parts, Big Ideas: Creating Space for Math Play in TK!

 

Loose Parts, Big Ideas: Creating Space for Math Play in TK

Measuring with Love: TK Bunnies Explore Non-Standard Measurement

                  Measuring with Love: TK Bunnies Explore Non-Standard Measurement

This week, our TK Bunnies had a blast exploring non-standard measurement in a fun and engaging way! We started by reading The Love Monster by Rachel Bright, a sweet story that inspired us to create our own Love Monsters. Each Bunny designed a unique monster, and then we used our math skills to measure them using connecting cubes.

This activity supported multiple early math concepts, including:
💗 One-to-one correspondence
💗 Counting in the correct order
💗 Comparing lengths by size

After measuring, the learning didn't stop! One of the Bunnies made an excellent connection to another book we read, The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond. Inspired by the story, we played a game using foam hearts and giant dice. Each Bunny rolled the dice, counted the number, and then either "rained" or tossed the many foam hearts into a bucket.

It was a joyful, hands-on way to build number sense while fostering creativity and collaboration. Our Bunnies are growing their math skills and making meaningful connections between stories and play. Learning through love, laughter, and exploration—what could be better? 💕

                                                                                

                                                                   Make Math Fun!

#TKMath #NonStandardMeasurement #PlayfulLearning #LoveMonsterMath

Holiday Counting Magic!

                                            Holiday Counting Magic in Our Early Math Class!

The holiday season brings so many fantastic opportunities for playful math learning! This week, The Bunnies dove into counting activities that brought festive cheer to our number practice. We can't resist cookies on a baking sheet. 

                                                  
                                                                 *Activity from KinderbyKim

One of our most magical moments was using candy canes to form numbers in "snow." Observing the children shape these sweet treats into digits while developing their number formation skills was delightful. The sensory experience of working with the pretend snow added an extra layer of engagement, making everyone eager to participate.

                                           

Our classroom transformed into a winter wonderland during our wreath hunt! Students excitedly searched for hidden wreaths around the room, practicing their counting skills and number writing as they discovered each one. The combination of movement and mathematics kept everyone active and learning.

The highlight of our week was our giant Santa game, in which students rolled dice and used colorful pom-poms as a group activity. The excitement was contagious as children took turns rolling, counting, and adding their pom-poms to Santa. This collaborative approach to counting practice created terrific opportunities for peer learning and celebration.

We've also been exploring counting through our new favorite book, "Chicka, Chicka, Ho, Ho, Ho!" The rhythmic text has become a classroom favorite, and we find ourselves counting along with the story each time we read it. We cut out shapes to decorate our trees. 

                                                                 

                                                                                *Activity by KinderbyKim

The holidays provide endless opportunities for counting practice - from tallying ornaments on our classroom tree to counting the candles in our decorations. These authentic counting experiences help make mathematics meaningful and memorable for our young learners.

Watching our students light up as they discover numbers through these festive activities reminds us that math learning can be joyful and effective when woven naturally into holiday celebrations.

                                                              Happy Holiday Counting!

 

Exploring Patterns: Building Mathematical Thinking with Manipulatives

Young children, like the TK Bunnies, are natural pattern seekers. From recognizing the alternating colors on their favorite stuffed animal to arranging blocks in repeating sequences, pattern recognition helps build the foundation for mathematical thinking. Today, let's explore how simple manipulatives like linking cubes and pattern blocks can spark pattern exploration in young learners.

Starting with Linking Cubes

Linking cubes are perfect for introducing basic patterns. Start creating simple AB patterns (red-blue-red-blue) and invite your child to continue the sequence. As they gain confidence, introduce more complex patterns:

• ABC patterns (red-blue-yellow)
• AABB patterns (red-red-blue-blue)
• Growing patterns (1 cube, 2 cubes, 3 cubes)

The physical connection between cubes helps children understand how patterns "link" together, making it easier to visualize and extend sequences. 

The TK Bunnies used their linking cubes to make patterned turkey feathers.

Pattern Blocks: Shapes and Colors

Pattern blocks add a geometric dimension to pattern exploration. Children can:

• Create color patterns with same-shaped blocks.
• Build shape patterns using different blocks.
• Design symmetrical patterns that mirror each other.
• Make growing patterns by adding one more shape each time.

The combination of shapes and colors helps children recognize multiple pattern attributes simultaneously.

Again, The TK Bunnies had fun showing off their growing skills. 

Recommended Books for Young Pattern Explorers

For ages 3-4:

• "Pattern Bugs" by Trudy Harris - Shows patterns in nature through playful rhymes.
• "Beep Beep, Vroom Vroom!" by Stuart J. Murphy - Explores patterns through toy cars and trucks.

For ages 5-6:

• "The Best Bug Parade" by Stuart J. Murphy - Introduces growing patterns through colorful insects.
• "Pattern Fish" by Trudy Harris - Uses sea creatures to demonstrate various pattern types.

Tips for Pattern Play

1. Start simple and gradually increase the complexity.
2. Encourage children to describe patterns in their own words.
3. Ask "What comes next?" to promote prediction skills.
4. Look for patterns in everyday life (fence posts, tile floors, clothing).
5. Let children create their own patterns and explain their thinking.

Remember that pattern exploration isn't just about repetition—it's about understanding relationships, making predictions, and developing mathematical reasoning skills to serve children throughout their academic journey.

What patterns will your young mathematicians discover today?