Teaching Children About Numbers
We teach children from an early age how to count and recognize numbers. This early exposure to numbers begins building a foundation for aural understanding; sight recognition; how to express number in concrete representation, words and symbols; and place value.
Learning about numbers, and how they work, is an essential life skill for all learners to function successfully in society. There is little we do that does not contain the use of numbers. Calendars, time, money, space, measurement, and many more mathematical concepts are used in our everyday lives. Not having a good grasp of numbers and how they work is a disadvantage and can lead to learning difficulties. Teaching children about number should be natural and relaxed.
How Can We Help?
Singing number songs and saying verse containing numbers. Start with sequences 1-3 and 1-5. (Three Little Frogs or Five Little Ducks). Allow children to listen to CD’s with number songs. Using the child’s fingers and toes, or using finger puppets, gives concrete experience to number. Encourage the child to count the items. Take opportunities to count items in real life situations. (How many eggs in the egg carton?) Allow children to help you shop and count items. (We need three tomatoes.)
Teach children to write numbers by tactile means. Make numbers out of play dough; have them trace the number outline on very fine sandpaper; use a box of sand to draw numbers; have a supply of plastic , colored numbers that can be manipulated. Using more than once sense enhances the learning process. In formal teaching use pictorial methods of learning and don’t move to symbolic or mental until concepts are stable in the child’s mind. Continue multi sensory learning of number throughout school years as this will cater to all learning styles in your learners. Not all students learn in the same way. Know your learners and present work that caters to their learning style. Maths difficulties are seen when teaching methods do not cater to all learners.
Be the teacher who understands that number is a concept and teaching strategies need to be manipulated to suit all learning styles.
