Mathematicians at Work!

"The development of understanding of mathematical concepts is not limited to a particular time of the day. Mathematics learning is incorporated throughout the day. 

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

- Ontario Kindergarten Program Document

We have been learning a lot about mathematics as an educator team this year. Mostly we have been learning to take on the observer role and notice all the math our learners are doing daily. From there we have been supporting their math thinking. Our mathematicians this year have been exploring counting and numbers in their play very regularly. They have become curious and fascinated about using math tools to count large volumes of materials and exploring growing number patterns through building. What has been so interesting to us is that many different mathematicians are beginning to explore these concepts at their developmentally appropriate level. Math through play allows learners to enter in at their level but to be challenged to expand their thinking and skills.

Our mathematicians observe what their peers are doing and then work to create their own representation.

Our mathematicians explored how they can show numbers. They loved using 10 frames as a tool for showing numbers.

We also used numerals and dice to show numbers.

Working on sorting and counting the number of sides on the shapes.

Mathematicians explore numbers outdoors during Outdoor Learning. Two boys worked together to use their bodies to create numerals. We always have clipboards available during outdoor learning and this Year 1 decided to show her thinking of how to add numbers together.

Retelling stories through the use of math.

Playing the game Tenzis to work on subitizing skills.

This mathematician created a growing pattern through the use of addition sentences (see the white board). She was then encouraged to use the counters to show her thinking. She was then able to see the pattern growing and determine which would come next.

Another way to use counters to show knowledge of numbers.

Creating towers of numbers and noticing the patterns inside them became a favourite of our mathematicians. They created growing patterns inside their towers or growing patterns between the towers. Once one student tried it, others were inspired as well. 

As a class we counted the seeds in our pumpkin. We used 10 and 5 frames to help us. Afterwards a group of students worked together to count all the seeds from the other pumpkin. They persisted and filled the entire carpet with 10 frames to count the seeds. They shared their work with the class and this has since inspired many variations of counting materials in the room. 

Counting the manipulatives

Sorting and counting the 3D shapes.

Sorting by colour, counting and recording the number on sticky notes.

After sorting the colours at the light table these girls worked together to count each colour and then record the total with numbers.

Another group did the same thing another day

Counting and representing

With all this counting we have begun to explore efficiency of strategies (i.e. counting every single counter starting at 1 is going to be hard and take a long time). Many of our mathematicians will tell you that we should count by 10s. To build their fluency with counting by 10s we have listened to some songs.

We're looking forward to seeing what our mathematicians do next!

Self-Regulation in Room 122

We have been learning about the Zones of Regulation in our classroom. We have been using the Zones as a way to recognize our feelings and the feelings of others.

We begun our learning by reading various books about feelings and using loose parts to create different emotions.

Our learners created a list of feelings and then we sorted them into the 4 Zone colours. The Zones are Blue, Green, Yellow and Red. We talked a lot about how all feelings are okay and we will regularly feel different emotions throughout our day. Some emotions feel good while others don't. 

Our co-created Zones Wall

Once we had an understanding of the various Zones we created a list of ways we can get ourselves back into the Green Zone which is the Zone when we are optimally regulated.

Our calming breathing activities

Our yoga centre

The calming corner or self-regulation corner

Our Zones Check In


Calming activities

Our learners wrote a lot of books about their understanding of the Zones.

"We are learning to know our zones"

The Zones are a wonderful tool we use in our classroom to support our learners self-regulate. The Zones can also be useful at home. Maybe you can create a Zones area in your home to support your child regulating at home. You can create a list of 'how to get to the green zone' at home as there are many different options.

Daily Writing

We are sure you have heard your child speak about their 'daily writing'. We have been so impressed with the gains our learners have made this month. Everyone has demonstrated growth in their abilities as writers. Our daily writing program provides access at many levels for all our learners. We have many supports available for our writers to access in order to build their independence. We have books, sight word lists/rings, sentence starters and word walls.

We co-created our success criteria for 'personal best' writing with our writers. This is the list they came up with:

Play creates many opportunities for authentic writing experiences. Our learners can be found writing in all areas of the classroom. We encourage our writers to use their skills to share their thinking and learning through drawings and writing. We provide open ended templates in the different areas of the classroom as a choice for our writers to share their thinking.

Here are some of our writers hard at work:

Our writers hang their writing here each day. This functions as a tracking for both the students and the educators. We then choose their 'personal best' writing to add to our personal best writing wall. From there it goes into their documentation binder.