Kindergarten! Everyday Math

     Today I spent a full day substitute teaching in a Kindergarten class.  I have a special place in my heart for Kindergarten.  I find the grade to be very challenging, yet so very, very fulfilling.  I mean, how can you not be happy when they are just so darn cute?  Anyway, professionally speaking, I am always watching for how material is presented to these youngsters.  Especially now that we are so Common Core driven and the expectations are high, yet they are still 5 & 6 year olds after all.

    The math series used was Everyday Math.  I have heard various opinions on this series.  It closely resembles the series I am most familiar with: Investigations.  It is often criticized by parents for not being "solid" enough.  Like Investigations, I believe it is striving for the students to have a strong number sense.  Parents often get homework that is unrecognizable. When you are in your 30s or 40s and you are not "carrying the one" in addition, you are not in comfortable math territory. 

    As we sat on the ABC rug and discussed the number of the week, we created a number poster for the number 7.  (The teacher had done this for every number sequentially to this point, so the kids were very familiar with the routine.)  I have to admit, I had fun!

     This is not a crazy, new concept to make a number poster I realize.  However, I did like this for a couple of reasons.  1)  I liked how the teacher incorporated money stamps and 2) the Popsicle stick tally marks were a neat idea.