The most common mathematical signs that young children will begin seeing and using are the +, -, and = signs used to perform simple addition and subtraction. The addition sign (+) shows that one number is to be added to the other. If children have concrete examples of items in front of them and they […]
This company has some really nice toys for good prices. You can shop by types, age, materials, and price. The clearance page has all sorts of toys that would be great additions to your manipulatives area. There is also a tab that allows you to find local retailers who carry their products.
When I was a preschool director, I prided myself on having the most interesting and fabulous indoor gross motor equipment available. To be fair, the program had invested a lot of resources in much of that equipment before I arrived. That didn’t stop me from scouring the catalogues for the newest designs and fighting for […]
Game playing is in and of itself, one of the great ways young children make sense about the world. They learn how to take turns, test rules, negotiate conflict, work cooperatively, and practice early reading and mathematical skills. I have written about game play over the past couple of years (board games, noncompetitive games, gross motor […]
I couldn’t stop looking at these photographs of the Most Amazing Playgrounds in the World. They are a great reminder about how important play is and how we need to ensure that children have safe, clean, inspirational, and engaging places to play in. I just love thinking about all children having access to playgrounds […]
I’ve written about dice in the past on a couple of occasions but this set has not only pips, but cardinal numbers and signs as well. 6 and the ways those numbers are represented by pips on a die, you can add the dice with signs, just to liven things up. These are large enough that they […]
Teaching isn’t Rocket Science. It’s Harder. Love this. Read it.
This week I thought we could think about ways to encourage families to support early math concepts at home with some simple ideas that anyone can do. Everyday chores may be horribly boring to the adults who do them (ME!) but children can find joy in the same tasks if they are approached as fun, […]
This time of year always brings “Top 10” lists and “the Best and Worst” of the past year. We often get a glimpse into the year to come as well. My personal favorite is always “The Year in Pictures.” This one comes from the Children’s Defense Fund. Really lovely and a lot to think about. […]