Eight Ways to Add Math to Your Day

In addition to songs that incorporate counting, such as “Five Little Ducks,” “Zoom Zoom Zoom (We’re Going to the Moon,)” and “Five Little Monkeys,” research shows that classical music in particular lights up the areas of the brain responsible for doing math equations. (Comment if you need more song suggestions.)

After reading my class a certain book about a demanding rodent who is never satisfied, I set out two sets of laminated cookies I had created: one with numbers, one with corresponding amounts of chocolate chips.

I am not a fan of calendar as a tool to teach math. After a mentor shared this article from NAEYC, I began exploring more developmentally-appropriate ways to teach concepts such as time passage and numeracy. One of my favorites is birthday boards! In addition to helping children feel valued and celebrate their friends, birthday boards teach sequence, numbers, and passage of time as students count down to their friends’ birthdays and begin to associate their own with numbers and months of the year!

In addition to teaching math concepts such as sequencing and early time-telling, picture schedules help young children anticipate, learn, and follow daily routines. I have found them especially helpful for preschoolers entering school for the first time, as they provide visual reassurance throughout the day that each time period brings them closer to pickup. The National Pyramid Model for Innovations has visual schedule tips and free printables like the ones to the left here.