Teaching numbers and counting in kindergarten and preschool
/ Blog
Understanding numbers and counting is a very important skill for people of all ages.
However, it is vital that young children, especially in the preschool and kindergarten years develop these skills, so they are able to incorporate them into their everyday lives. Having developed these skills at a young age will guarantee their success in their future schooling careers.
Generally, it is understood that there are three learning styles that people exhibit. These learning categories are auditory, visual and kinaesthetic. However, some people can be a mixture of multiple. A learning style is an individual’s approach to learning based on their strengths, weakness and preferences. Although, when children are at a young age, there is a high chance that they haven’t developed their learning style yet, which is why it’s essential for pre k teachers to teach numbers and develop counting skills in a way that will suit all children.
Firstly, it is essential to keep some record of the child’s progress. An example of this could be a counting book, where they do all of their workings and you, the teacher, can go back and mark their progress. This number book will allow the child to understand what they need to improve on, while also keeping a record of their results.
Aside from recording the child’s progress, it is vital in shaping the lesson to suit all types of learners. Below are some suggestions for the three different learning styles that can be incorporated into the classroom.
Kinaesthetic Learners
For the kinaesthetic learners, a suggestion could be creating arts and craft games. Kinaesthetic learners receive the most improvement when they do things themselves, so allowing them to do hands-on activities will guarantee success. Another example of this could be asking the student to find their hands when counting. This will enable them to physically use their body to develop their counting skills.
Visual Learners
Visual learners learn well by processing information through their eyes. This is why matching games or using drawings and pictures could help enhance the child’s learning experience. A suggestion could be using bright colours while doing number games to help the child retain the information. It also helps to let the child sit toward the front of the classroom, so they easily see what is being taught.
Auditory Learners
Finally, for auditory learners, repetition and asking the child to repeat the classroom content will ensure memory retention. Creating competitive games where the children work in groups will aid children who are auditory learners. And finally, allowing their peers to quiz them or develop rhymes will enable the student to be more engaged in the activity and will assist their overall learning.
These strategies have been developed with the child’s strengths and weaknesses in mind. Counting and numbers can be difficult for preschool and kindergarten students, which is why it is vital to ensure that all content taught are inviting and adaptable to all the student’s learning abilities.
