Numeracy and Maths at the Early Stage

1. Numeracy and Maths at the Early Stage Parent Meeting

2. Overview • Looking at the mathematical skills and concepts the children are developing at this stage. • Looking at the learning activities and experiences that develop understanding and skills. • Looking at how parents can support learning in numeracy and maths.

3. Counting • Learning the sequence of number words • Counting skills – using the sequence of number words to do this • Learning the order of numbers • One-to-one correspondence – matching the number words to the items to be counted – touch and count each item only once • Learning that the last number in a count tells us how many there are • Learning the language of quantities – lots, more, less, fewer, about the same number

4. How to Support Counting Skills • Nursery rhymes and stories • Number songs • Going up and down the stairs • Setting the table • Shopping • Buttons, bricks, toys, anything • Say one number for each thing • Count things in pictures • Count sounds and physical movements • Count out a given quantity

5. Learning About Numbers • Look for numbers – at home, houses, buses, cars, telephone, in shops • Learn the order of numbers – forwards and backwards, what number comes next • Match a written number to a number of objects • Make marks to show a number – e.g. the score in a game

6. Measuremente.g. length, weight, capacity • Being able to measure is a life skill, used in many contexts throughout life • As they progress through school, children will learn about measures, units of measure and measuring tools. • They will use numbers to estimate, make measurements and solve problems. • At the early stage the children are learning to use the language of measure.

7. Key Concepts for Measure • Use descriptive language (big, little, short, thin, wide, tall, heavy, light) • Using comparative language (longer, shorter, heavier, more full, thicker) • Making ordered arrangements (longest, shortest, tallest, widest, heaviest)

8. Time • Understand the concept of time passing – now, the past, the future – and recalling events in order • Talk about familiar times such as bedtime, breakfast, dinner time • Talk about what comes first, next and last • Talk about yesterday, today and tomorrow • Talk about special clock and calendar times

9. Shape • Using language to describe and classify shapes • Play with wooden or plastic shapes • ‘Junk’ modelling • Use words like round, straight, flat, pointed, corners • Shape matching games • Posting boxes • Learn the names of shapes • Look for shapes at home, on buildings, all around

10. Maths Through Stories • COLOUR – What colour is the bear? The chair? • SORTING – Which bear has the big chair? • ORDERING – big/middle sized/small • COMPARISONS – porridge hot/cold, chairs high/low, beds hard/soft • PREDICTING – What do you think baby bear will say about his chair? • COUNTING – How many bears? Beds? Bowls? • SHARING – Mother bear shares out the porridge • MATCHING – Bears to bowls, bowls to table