Counting, Counting, Counting

We're working hard on learning how to count. We're learning how to count to 100 (any beyond!) and learning how to count objects. One of the things we do each day is use the 100s chart to count. This helps us learn what the numbers look like, which number comes next, and helps us work from left to right. Another thing we love to do is to sing and dance with Jack Hartmann's video: Count to 100. I love this video because the students can use so many senses while learning to count to 100. They can hear, see, and say the numbers. I've been know to put this video on for my own kids while traveling because it's good at getting the kinks out!

Last week our home link focused on counting up to your front door.  We've ready many books about counting, but one that stands out is Christopher Counting by Valeri Gorbachev.  Christopher counted everything!  He counted everything in his backpack, he counted butterflies in the air, and he counted the peas on his plate.  That got us thinking:  what could we count?  Can we count the number of pages in a book?  Can we count how many socks are in the sock drawer?  Can we count how many times we can dribble a ball?  Can we count how long it will take us to make our beds?  Yes!

We're not just counting by 1s.  We're learning how to count by 10s as well.  Counting by 10s will help us learn how to count by 1s.  For example, what number does come after 49?  When we make associations with counting by 10s, it will help us know the next number.  We're counting backwards, too.  Who doesn't love the finger play of Five Little Monkeys?

Also, we've learned how to use our fingers to count.  This can get tricky with little hands.  We've practiced counting with our index finger first and then moving across to the rest of the fingers and saving the thumb for last.  When the thumb comes out too soon it can mess up too many of our counts.  See us learning how to use our fingers the kindergarten way:

Finally, we're learning how to count objects.  Our goal is make an accurate count, and we'll be able to do that by moving each object over to a new area so that we won't count it again.  We're working on saying the next number only when we've moved an object--not counting too fast or too slow.  Candy season is just around the corner.  Next time your child gets a bag of Skittles or M&Ms, have them count each candy in the bag, and then count it again to make sure he/she got the count correct.  Don't forget to move each piece!

Have fun counting!