Counting Collections with Kindergarteners

Introduction to Counting Collections

• Stephanie Latimer teaches a lesson on counting collections to kindergarten students.
• The lesson focuses on developing number sense based on students’ skill levels.
• Students count collections ranging from 5 to 250 objects.

Importance of Place Value

• Throughout the year, students have learned to organize collections effectively.
• The lesson builds towards basic place value understanding:
  • Discussing tens and ones and how 10 tens make 100.
  • Students are encouraged to visualize their collections while counting.

Counting Methodologies

• Students use Ziploc bags to organize collections into manageable counting units.
• Choices of counting strategies include:
  • Counting by fives.
  • Counting by tens.
• Emphasis on accuracy in representation of counted items.

Recording Counts

• Teacher encourages effective methods for recording counts.
• Example of undesirable recording: listing numbers without recognizing quantities; e.g., writing "ten, twenty, thirty" incorrectly in pedals.
• Recommended alternative: recording ten, ten, ten for tens, and then listing total counts below.

Collaborative Learning

• Students engage in partnerships to count collections.
• Rock-paper-scissors may decide how to count.
• Example discussions on pairing counting with tools, such as 10 frames.

Strategies for Grouping and Organizing

• Students learn to group items for more manageable counting.
• Examples included counting by twos to form tens, thus creating groups of 10.
• Encouragement to verify counting through physical organization: moving counted items aside.

Concept of Making Hundreds

• Students are preparing for next-level learning on how to recognize hundreds.
• They learn how to build to 100 using collected items and record their findings.
• Suggestion: create a visual circle around the hundred during counting.

Overcoming Challenges in Counting

• Discusses common difficulties, such as remembering counted items.
• Use of visual aids (like objects organized in piles) assists in keeping a clear count.

Mathematical Reasoning and Student Engagement

• The lesson encourages perseverance and collaboration during counting activities.
• Ongoing observation by the teacher allows assessment of mathematical reasoning and social skills.

Conclusion of the Lesson

• Students come together to share their counting outcomes.
• Teacher reinforces understanding by reviewing counted quantities (how many hundreds, tens, and ones).
• Positive reinforcement given for effort and understanding, emphasizing the importance of counting collections
  effectively.