Sorting is a major focus of kindergarten math. Through sorting, children identify similar traits and group items together based on those traits. Sorting is a valuable math skill, as it is essential for classifying and interpreting data. To provide kindergartners with sorting practice, offer them a variety of objects that are different colors, sizes and shapes. Encourage children to identify common characteristics among the items and then sort them into piles based on those common characteristics. For instance, children may group red items together, they may group small items together or they may group all items that are round together.
Another mathematical skill that is focused on in kindergarten is patterning. Patterns are useful for predicting outcomes and are often used in algebra. For example, if a child is presented with the pattern 5, 10, 15, 20 and is able to identify that the pattern in the numbers is skip-counting by fives, she'll be able to repeat the pattern. Provide kindergarten students with manipulatives to help them learn how to create and recognize patterns. Draw a numerical representation of a pattern on a piece of paper, and have children use foam shapes to recreate the pattern; for example, the pattern 1, 2, 1, 2 could be recreated with triangle and square foam shapes -- triangle, square, triangle, square. Alternatively, you could create a pattern with objects and ask students to repeat the pattern. For instance, if you created the pattern red candy, blue candy, red candy, blue candy, provide children with candies and ask them to repeat the pattern.
Being able to recognize the amount that numbers represent is vital for success in all areas of mathematics. During kindergarten, children should master this skill. Develop one-to-one correspondence in your students by having them match an amount of items to a specific number, or have them match pictures that illustrate an amount of items to numbers. You could write numbers on index cards and have children place an amount of toys on top of the index cards, or you could write numbers on pictures of ice cream cones and have children place pictures of scoops of ice cream with amounts of dots printed on them on the correct ice cream cone.
During kindergarten, children even begin learning the basic mathematical concept of addition. Manipulatives are a key item to use when teaching children how to add. To do so, write out basic addition problems, and instruct students to place an amount of items -- stickers, candies, craft pom-poms, for example -- underneath each addend and then count the total number of addends to determine the sum. This approach provides children with a concrete representation of addition, which they can later use to visualize the process.