I believe that children can learn basic maths for free anywhere. Children are born with the desire to learn. Parents are often worried about the cost of store-bought resources, time for creating activities, and pressure of academics. While I enjoy sharing learning games and quality Montessori materials, my children are usually learning basic math skills with little effort. When my kids were younger, we didn’t have special manipulative, and we’ve rarely used workbooks and apps. Currently, my 6-year-old daughter has been placed in 3rd grade math. Meanwhile, my 3-year-old has been learning to count and add. Brighterly.com creates its math curriculums using study resources, techniques, and information learners need to successfully reach their academic goals.
How to teach Maths for free
When kids first learn to count, they are usually counting by rote, for example 1, 2, 3, 4… Both of my kids mastered rote counting from hide-and-seek, and this fun game offers ample opportunity for counting practice! Initially, they would rush through the number sequence and lose count. This is common when kids have memorised numbers without knowing what they represent. No worries! To encourage my kids to improve their counting, I encourage them to count to a high number slowly and demonstrate this myself. Shah… let me share a secret with you: I tell them that it’s for “more hiding time” and don’t reveal my intent for counting practice. Half of teaching is about how you sell a lesson in a way that fits a child’s worldview. I also found the E Singapore Mathematics program that allows me to take basic lessons for free. A lot of useful information.
6 Important facts about teaching maths to kids
- Many parents and caregivers are capable of teaching their kids maths basics.
- Concrete concepts should mastered before interpreting symbols (eg, numerals, equations).
- Every child learns at their own pace. My 2 children are perfect examples of hitting milestones often a year or more apart.
- Basic maths can be taught anywhere: indoors / outdoors, home / school / play.
- A short spontaneous lesson can be highly effective.
- Children can learn how to count and do math in multiple languages simultaneously.
- Learning is often spiral rather than linear.
Although many of us grew up with workbooks and feel the pressure of progressing to the next page, reviewing the same concept can deepen our child’s knowledge.
Everyday counting opportunities
Along with rote counting, counting specific quantities and one-to-one correspondence should be introduced.
- When to start: Before they speak! Kids are absorbing everything from the start. Count fingers and toes, hugs and kisses – this helps them associate numbers with love and affection!
- What to count – anything that’s around!
- Objects: fingers, toes, food (Cheerios, fruit), toys, nature finds (eg, stones, leaves, twigs, pinecones), clothes, utensils, recycled bottle caps and paper rolls
- Motions: steps, stairs, claps, hugs, jumps, swings at the playground.
- Tips for starting:
- Begin with lower quantities: “1…2…” And then stop. “That’s it! 2!”
- Then gradually increase the amount.
- Organize what you’re counting in a line so you can show the start and end.
- For large amounts, show how to group objects by 5s or 10s so that it’s easier to keep track.
- Kids love to be active, and counting a large staircase for example can leave emphasizes the grandiosity of big numbers!