Why should I do counting collections?
Children need many and varied experiences with counting to learn which numbers come next, how this number sequence is related to the objects in front of them, how to keep track of which ones have been counted and which still need to be counted (Fuson 1988).
How do I begin?
It is as easy as placing a large pile of items on the tables and without any further instruction ask the students to begin counting their items!
Once you decide to make counting collections a regular routine in your classroom you will need to start collecting baggies of "stuff." Beans, pom-poms, buttons, cotton balls, rocks.... the sky is the limit! A walk through a craft store will spark lots of ideas. Parents can donate collections are well. Make sure you have collections of different sizes to meet the students' different needs. You will need a method for the students to record their thinking. Math journals work great!
What does the teacher do as the students are working?
As students work in partners, the teacher is observing, taking anecdotal notes, asking reflective questions, and selecting students to share with the whole group.
Why do the students record their counts?
Most students will begin counting one by one with no strategy for grouping the items. Once the some time has passed, interrupt their counting and ask them a question and then tell them to continue counting. Many students will forget where they were and have to start all over! This is a perfect time to discuss strategies for grouping items and how they will record their counting in their journals.
What does Counting Collections look like in Kindergarten?
Counting Collections: Kindergarten - a common core classroom friendly exercise from Luna Productions on Vimeo.
What does Counting Collections look like in the older grades?
Counting Collections: Third Grade - a common core classroom friendly exercise from Luna Productions on Vimeo.
Are Counting Collections part of your math instruction?
Try backwards Counting Collections; You give the number and they make the collection!
Counting is fundamental to so many things we do in mathematics.
Build their COUNTING POWER!!
Build their COUNTING POWER!!
To learn more read this article:
Counting Collections by Julie Kern Schwerdtfeger and Angela Chan in Teaching Children Mathematics / March 2007
For Leander ISD employees: To be eligible to win this amazing Counting Collections Starter Kit, add a comment below on how you would use this in your classroom. We will put all entries into the randomizer on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 @ 4 p.m.
We have a winner! Heather Moseley from Bagdad Elementary - Congratulations. We hope you enjoy this amazing Counting Collections Starter Kit. The contest is now over, but we hope everyone keeps on "counting!"
