There are a lot of ways to be thought of when it comes to teaching kids how to add numbers but these methods should be creative to make the kids more interested in the process of learning and more excited to count, add, subtract, divide and multiply.
Addition is the easiest when compared to the other mathematical solutions that are found out there and it is usually the first thing taught to the kids at school when it comes to math and numbers, and that is in addition to subtraction (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ART8iVG3yHg).
In this video, Michelle is teaching Aaron some mathematical words in the dictionary of math in order to increase his knowledge about numbers and make him more able to refer to specific numbers as bigger than or smaller than others and also give him the chance to know when two numbers are "equal" and so forth.
First of all, this lesson started with using some toys like the small tiny characters which Aaron loves and those building blocks which we have. Michelle placed a bunch of these toys on one side and a couple of others opposite to them and asked Aaron first to count them and second to tell her which is the bigger bunch and why.
Asking the kids about the answer is just part of the game because letting them think and share with you why they consider this the right answer or how they reached it is the part that is much more important, it will let you know whether they are thinking and solving the problems correctly or else it is just a coincidence.
This was the first game played through this lesson and it was followed by another question which Michelle used the building blocks in order to ask, which was about putting different towers made of these blocks and asking Aaron which is the bigger and why. Again, Aaron here had to count every single one to answer and not just give his answer according to the way it looks like.
Part of teaching the kids with those mind games is all about playing along with them and this is what Michelle has done in this lesson with Aaron. One of the games that were brought in this video was with the dice, Michelle and Aaron would be throwing it in turn and writing down the numbers each one of them gets every single time and the one getting the biggest number will be the winner at the end. This was the job of Aaron who is supposed to tell which is bigger and why, such as saying that six is the biggest number on the dice and thus it is bigger than two, etc.
There are lots of other ways that one could use for teaching the kids how to count (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wvSw8hoXPI) and lots of games to play for this sake. One of the other ways or games that Michelle referred to in this video was drawing some circles and putting in every single one of them a specific number of dots then asking Aaron to check on all those which are bigger than three for example.
The most important thing while playing these mathematical games with the kids is to try and be part of it; if you are asking questions, let them ask you in return and pay attention to the way they would respond to your answers, if you are playing general games then take your turn in them to see eventually who would be the winner and who would turn out to be the loser, because this will make the kids more excited to learn, more excited to count and more excited to solve all the mathematical problems you give them and answer all the questions you tend to ask.
Always give the kids the chance to explain their opinions and tell you how they reached their answer to make sure that they are moving on the right track.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to send them over and we would be more than happy to answer you back :-)!
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Hello, the purpose of this video is to really ensure that your child understands the concept
of more. Before we start this addition journey, we want to really ensure that your child has a
good foundation and understands the concept of more before moving on to starting to add
objects. And we want to do this by really starting to encourage that vocabulary,
really starting to develop that vocabulary by giving your child a variety of words that do
mean the same as more. So we want to be throughout these lessons, we want to be thinking about more,
larger, bigger, bigger number, all of those ideas to really encourage your child to start
to really understand those different words and that different vocabulary.
What we really want to start with, again, is we want to do this in a very practical,
proactive way where the children are enjoying it. And again, using objects that you've got
just at home and that do not take a long time to prepare and that don't cost a lot of money.
So we really want to start with, again, something very obvious, giving your child a very obvious
two piles with one being obviously way more so that they can actually immediately identify it.
Okay, so I'm just going to ask Aaron, we've got here helping us today. Say hello, Aaron.
Hello.
Okay, Aaron, I'm going to ask you, which pile of toys has got more? Okay, at this point,
this is where you want to really start the discussion with your child. It's very important
that you talk about maths with your child and actually get them to discuss what they're thinking,
how they're thinking and the strategies and methods they're using. This will come into play
as children become more advanced in maths. And this will actually be very, very important when
we get to those upper stages of maths. But if you started here at the beginning, it's something that
the child would get used to and they will always relate to. So I'm going to ask you, Aaron,
you've told me this pile is more. How do you know it's got more?
Because I'm counting in my head.
You're counting in your head? Do you think you could count the actual objects for me
so I could see that it's got more?
Yeah.
Okay.
One, two, three, four, five, six.
Okay, how many has that pile got?
One, two.
Okay, so how do you know this is more? This has got six and this has got two,
that's what you've told me. How do you know that six is more?
Because six is a bigger number.
Okay, so really reinforcing that vocabulary with your child and really, really getting
them to really think about what they're doing and why they're doing it.
And this will really, really set you in good stead for the mathematical journey as it continues.
So what we want to do from there is then we want to think about using maybe just something very
simple like a little dice game or a little sorting activity to then really start to, again,
reinforce that concept. So I'm going to take those away, Aaron. I'm going to ask you now to sort.
So all I'm going to ask Aaron to do is I'm going to give him four volts, like cubes,
and I'm going to ask you, Aaron, can you find a tower or two towers that are bigger than four,
that are more than four?
Okay, these two.
Okay. How do you know they're bigger than four?
Because that one, that one has seven and that one has six.
Okay, and they're both more than four. What about these ones? Are they more than four?
No, that one is three, that one's two, that one's two.
Okay, so again, really starting to encourage your child to talk about what they're doing,
why they're doing it, how they know. That was lovely sorting, Aaron.
So now we want to move on to something, and that can be, you can continue on with lots
of different ways of sorting, but again, just for the purpose of the lesson,
just keeping it short and sweet and giving you very quick, short ideas that you can move on with.
So again, something again, very simple, just a dice, and I'm going to ask Aaron,
his name's on there, my name's on there, and we're going to play a little game, Aaron.
So this game is, you're going to throw the dice and I'm going to throw the dice,
and whoever has more gets a point, okay? And whoever gets the most points is the winner.
Do you think we can do that? Okay, so you're going to go first.
So throw the dice, now throw it gently, please.
Okay, five, so draw five spots then on your side.
I'm actually getting them to draw those spots on there,
really getting them to visualise that idea of more.
Okay, so just five spots.
Okay, right, mummy's turn.
Two.
Yeah.
Okay, who has more?
Okay, so you give yourself a tick.
Good job.
Okay, right, your turn.
Two.
Okay, two.
Good, mummy's turn.
Oh, mummy got two.
Who has more?
No one.
Oh, what does that mean?
I don't know.
Do you think it means we both get a point?
Yeah.
Do you think it means we have the same number?
Yeah.
And again, things like this will happen, and again,
it's a perfect opportunity to then discuss that further vocabulary that
now we've got the same, we have got equal,
and maybe we can both get a point.
Will we both get a point?
Yeah.
Okay, that's fair.
Right, one more turn.
Maybe you're going to be the winner this time.
I don't know.
We'll see.
Yes.
Okay, go.
Put your number on there.
I know I am.
You know you're going to be the winner?
How do you know?
Because there's no number bigger than six.
Oh, on a dice.
You're right, Aaron.
What if I get six though?
It's a tie.
Oh, it's a tie.
So again, exploring those concepts of things like on a dice,
the biggest number is six, bringing those up as they come up,
and really addressing those and really getting that mathematical discussion
going on with your child.
They will enjoy it, and you will enjoy it,
and that understanding will really develop.
So you've got six, right?
Let's see if I'm going to get six.
That's going to be it.
Oh.
Yay, I win!
Okay, is six or five?
Have you got more, or have I got more?
Let's see.
One, two, three, four, five, six.
Yes, me.
Okay, give yourself a tick.
I win.
So Aaron is the winner.
So again, things like that can be really fun and really exciting,
and your child really enjoys it.
One last thing we're going to look at is,
just maybe again, back to that idea of sorting
and back to that idea of finding sets of different numbers.
And again, something that I've just drawn up very, very quickly
is six different sets of numbers.
And all's I'm going to ask Aaron to do is,
Aaron, I'm going to ask you just to tick the sets
that have got more than three.
Okay.
So do a tick.
Tick?
Yes.
Out of the circle?
In the circle.
Okay.
Okay, how do you know it's got more than three?
Because let's say one, two, three, four.
Yeah.
Good, okay.
Any more?
That one.
Okay.
How many has it got?
It has seven.
Okay, and so on and so forth.
And you can go through that as well.
So basically, oh, six.
The main idea of this video is that again,
you're exploring that concept of more in a fun, proactive, interactive way.
Again, boosting your child's confidence
and continuing on with that mathematical discussion
and reinforcing that vocabulary.
