Math Thinking Books

We have been observing the students lately and noticing that math seems to be popping up everywhere! To encourage the students to share this math thinking and learning with us, we created 'Math Thinking Books' for the students. This is a place where they can record their math thinking and learning. The excitement with these books was tangible in the room. They all wanted to work on them right away, we were all blown away by the focus and intentionality of each student in the class. The Ontario Kindergarten document says, "children need to be engaged in doing mathematics, talking about it, listening to others talk, and showing their results and solutions." What I love about these books, is that it allows them to do this.

A new provocation to encourage the students to explore addition

Using dominos

Using number cubes and counters to add numbers together

Composing the number 8 in different ways 

Adding number cubes: using counters to help and then writing her findings

The domino numbers were too big, so I.L used a 100s chart to help

Using counters and numbers to demonstrate an understanding of each number

Adding 10 frames together

Adding number cubes together

Adding dot plates

Representing numbers 

I.D wanted to find out how many trees were in our yard. She went around and counted each type of tree then recorded her findings in her math thinking book. 

Here is what she wrote in her math thinking book to represent her thinking

 Students have been exploring more than just number sense. They have been creating and writing about their math thinking in all the strands (This is why I love the play-based approach so much-- math is always happening!).

A.Ah- Drawing his 3D shape representation

Measuring the dimensions of our white board

R.H- "Look Ms. Tompkins! The cup is heavier. The circle is lighter!" How do you know? "Because the cup is down and the circle is up". 

These next few photos excite me, not only because the creations are beautiful but because 3 JK boys worked collaboratively to create them. After each 'stage' they ran across the classroom to get me to take a photo and then immediately got to work adding more. 

Here is how it unfolded:

We have begun to explore probability, using language such as likely, impossible and certain when using number cubes, spinners and everyday life.

"Young children have the curiosity and the capability to engage in mathematical thinking and learning."

Ontario Kindergarten Curriculum

I hope this post demonstrates the incredible abilities our young learners have, especially when it comes to mathematics.