There are 6 key kindergarten math skills that your kindergartner needs to learn this year: counting to 100, counting objects up to 20, recognizing and writing numbers up to 20, comparing numbers, understanding addition and subtraction, and making tens. The primary focus of kindergarten through 2nd grade math curriculum is to focus on developing number sense and addition/subtraction skills. It is easy to support your kindergartner in building these skills through learning at home!
Math, more than many other subjects, is what I would call a brick-by-brick subject. What I mean by that is math is a subject where each new skill is a progression from the previous skill and each grade level provides a foundation for the following year. Students need a strong foundation to be successful. This means parents and caregivers need to know what specific skills their child needs to master in each grade level. The good news is that if you notice your student is missing an earlier skill, that skill can be taught, repaired and reinforced, so a solid foundation can be achieved.
6 Key Kindergarten Math Skills Your Child Needs to Learn
- Count to 100 in sequence
- Accurately count objects up to 20
- Recognize and write numbers 0-20
- Compare numbers
- Understand Addition and Subtraction
- Make tens to start understanding place value
1. Count to 100 in Sequence
All students need to learn to count by ones (1,2,3,4,5,6 . . . ) and by tens (10, 20, 30 . . . .). This is the math equivalent of learning the alphabet. Students also need to be able to start at any number in the sequence (i.e. what comes after 28?) and count forward.
Learning at home: Count Everything!
- Jumping jacks
- Blocks
- Seconds
- Windows in the house
- Rote count things outside while driving in the car
2. Accurately Count Objects Up to 20
This is called understanding 1:1 correspondence. Basically this skill connects counting (knowing the names of the number) with how many of an object there are. Kids often need to touch or move objects to know that they have counted them when they first start learning.
Learning at home: Count objects kids can hold
- Ask your child to count out 4 forks for the dinner table,
- Tell them they can have 3 crackers,
- Ask them how many stuffed animals they have,
- Have them dump 8 scoops of sand in a bucket.
3. Recognize and write numbers 0-20
This is a multi-step process. First is recognizing a number and saying its name. Next is being able to match a number to the correct number of objects. Then there is being able to form the numbers correctly. And finally there is the ability to label groups of objects with the correct number.
Learning at home: Label, label, label!
- Label containers with clear large numbers and let kids put objects in the jar that matches the number
- Make a path outside with chalk and label the squares with number in order and then walk the path saying the number or have the child go to a square and say which number they are standing on
- Trace numbers in a large font
- Make numbers out of playdough
- Write numbers in a box with the number above to copy
- Write numbers on lines
4. Compare numbers
This is developing number sense as well as a move toward understanding numbers in the abstract. Students building kindergarten math skills are learning to look at 2 numbers and know which is larger and which is smaller. When this learning is beginning, students may have to build sets of objects that correspond to the numbers to make that comparison.
Learning at home: Compare anything you can count
- Play which is less and which is more
- Which bowl has more strawberries
- Which car has more seats
- Which tower has fewer blocks
- As students become more confident in knowing amounts based on the number
- Then play “Which is better?” (e.g. 10 pieces of candy or 3 pieces of candy? 15 spiders or 6 spiders?
5. Understand addition is putting together or adding to, and subtraction is taking apart or taking from
Understanding addition and subtraction is really working with the language of math. Having actual objects to practice adding and subtracting is critical in the beginning. Also having students work with the vocabulary of add, plus, subtract and minus is important. Once your child has a working understanding of adding and subtracting, then they can work on the symbols + and – and using digits. By the end of kindergarten students should be able to easily add and subtract within 5 (i.e. what is 3+1 or what is 4-2) and be able to add and subtract using objects within 10.
Learning at home: Label when you can
- Ask your child to “add” or “subtract” something from a grocery cart
- Have your child subtract a cookie from a jar
- Count eggs as you remove them from a carton
6. Work with numbers 11-19 by “making tens” to start understanding place value
We have a base-10 system which means that place value is tied to making tens. Students need to be introduced to the idea that the number 14 is made up of one ten and 4 ones for example. This can be done by making a ten-frame
and then filling it (making a ten) and then perhaps having leftovers which are the ones
If your child understands the difference between 1 ten, and 1 one then they are well on their way to understanding the foundations of place value.
Supporting your child’s math can feel daunting, especially because it can look so different from how you learned math. It’s helpful to focus on the foundational concepts that students need to build to focus our attention. For those looking at later grades, or with more questions, here is a good resource for understanding what students are supposed to learn in each grade-level:
We are here to meet with or consult about your child’s math progress. Feel free to reach out to set up an initial free consultation if you have any questions, or concerns about your child’s math progress.
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