Supporting Numeracy in The Early Years
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Let’s start from the very beginning, I’ve heard it’s a very good place to start!
What is numeracy? Numeracy is about having an understanding of mathematical concepts and how they work in the world around us. Let’s imagine sharing biscuits on a plate, a child with numeracy skills will automatically divide them equally between the biscuit-party-people, demonstrating their understanding of counting, division and problem solving.
Developing a child’s numeracy skills in the early years not only assists them in their future formal education, it also assists them in understanding the world around them, the development of general problem solving and prepares them for daily life.
CONNETIX is a resource that can support the early development of numeracy skills, both at home and in an early learning center setting. Let me outline a few simple ways that YOU can increase your child’s numeracy skills:
Please note mathematics skills and numeracy skills are not the same, although related and somewhat intertwined they are different! Children may have great mathematics skills but are not numerate until they can apply these skills in a wide range of situations.
No matter what you are doing, how you are playing or where you are, this one can be implemented. Language in play is valuable to not only build vocabulary but increase listening skills, assist cognitive development and early numeracy skills. Use phrases such as ‘next to’, ‘on-top of’ and ‘underneath’ to develop positional language skills, which children are often assessed on at school.
Using language that describes the size and features of the tiles, such as; big, small, orange or green, is also beneficial in developing sorting and categorising skills which is important in early numeracy.
By just talking YOU are helping your child develop vital skills, what a win!
Starting to recognise numbers and shapes can happen in all aspects of your child’s life, from noticing the round clock to the square shape of their sandwich. Tracing the shapes of CONNETIX, helps them develop a deeper understanding of the shapes and their features PLUS it encourages them to hold a pencil which is great for hand-eye-coordination and fine motor skills.
Zara is a primary school teacher in Melbourne and mother of two, passionate about the importance of play and inspiring creativity which she shares through her Instagram account @zara_play_tribe.
Being able to recognise, identify and describe basic features of an object falls under the classification umbrella of early math skills. CONNETIX is wonderful because there are so many different ways to sort them. Such as:
When we talk about advanced shape matching, not only do children get exposed to some wonderful vocabulary they can also check their work as they go. An equilateral triangle does not stack well on a right angle triangle, this then gives them confidence in a potentially tricky task!
Using informal units of measurement with your child is another great way to develop their understanding of maths, measurement and patterns, essentially building their numeracy skills! Once you have measured each other you can compare sizes, count the shapes, try with different shapes and different objects.
Measuring with CONNETIX also happens all on its own, children identify the different lengths of the sides of the shapes. They do this as they build towers and work out which shapes tessellate best!
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