Use everyday experiences and common manipulatives to teach kindergarten students about math concepts. Experienced teacher Denise Bryan uses common objects, such as tangerines. drinking straws and paper clips, to teach math concepts. Children are visual by nature and it's important for them to see math as it relates to objects and situations they are familiar with. Herbert P. Ginsburg, a Jacob H. Schiff Foundations professor of psychology and education, warns that although everyday experience is beneficial for teaching math to young students, it should be supplemented with more structured experiences.
Children learn more when they feel comfortable, are having fun and don't feel intimidated. Implement playtime into a math lesson for the best results. According to the book "The Early Years Study: Reversing the Real Brain Drain," it is best to allow young children opportunities to develop problem-solving skills during play, instead of exclusively through directed and isolated tasks. Problem-solving play helps lay a foundation of healthy brain development that will benefit a kindergartner throughout his life. Provide students with a sand or water table or simply a pile of blocks to encourage math learning through play.
Kindergarten students, just like students of all ages, appreciate being recognized and rewarded for their accomplishments. Create a reward system to help students comprehend their progress in math. Reward correct math answers with star stickers and use charts to map overall progress on math concepts. Offer a reward for accomplishments, such as a pizza party or a longer recess.
Use cooperative learning techniques to teach kindergarten students. Divide students into smaller groups to solve math-related problems using manipulatives. For example, ask students to separate blocks into piles based on their color or size and have students work together to complete the task.
Another way to help students learn is to use props, such as puppets, to teach the lesson. Use colorful puppets to narrate a math lesson or to count objects. Or have students make puppets and use the puppets to narrate math-related lessons to other students.