Simple Ways to Introduce Math!

I’m going to be honest here, Math was always my least favorite subject. I struggled with Math. I never could get the concepts quick enough before they moved onto the next. But teaching basic math, now that is something I have gotten get the hang of…. I LOVE teaching these skills!

Take a look at how I introduce new basic skills using adapted books, and get a sneak peek into my newest book set!

There are SO MANY topics to cover, but throughout the year for my younger learners, I like them to LEAVE my classroom with these skills MASTERED, so this is where we start.

• Count It
• More or Less
• Shapes
• Patterns
• Coins
• Big or Little
• Number Sequencing

First up 1:1 correspondence. Some of my kiddos work on this for many years, but the more exciting your materials are, and the more you switch it up to help account for generalization, the more success you will see.

My kiddos love the colored bear manipulatives. We match them to the page to start, and then I fade the bears away. Some days I change it up and use NON MATCHING manipulatives, because a common theme in my classroom is “Be flexible” and we often set the kids up to have to practice being flexible.

       

The books can be arranged as 1-10, 10-20, or 1-20. This would be depending on your classroom needs.

Next is more or less. This is a skill for LIFE, it can be used when cooking, shopping, and for basic perception.

   

This book is great for extra practice, but we also practice by using real objects too, but this can build independence. This is a “circle it” book, no velcro or icons, but circle with a dry erase marker. Kids have fine motor difficulties? Try a bingo dabber to choose the right answer. You could always have them just point, too!

Another great skill to work on is shapes. We range from working on basic shapes, to some more complex ones that the kids learn in the general education classrooms. 

This book is great for identifying, generalizing, and practicing, but if you want the FULL set to work on each shape individually and identifying them in the NATURAL environment, check out my shape books HERE.

Patterns are another great concept to work on. We work on this in the natural environment every day, whether it be with different snacks, at morning meeting, or balls in the bowling alley. But sometimes you need to directly teach it and PRACTICE it daily.

Another important life skill is money, but first we start with COINS. Identifying coins is the first step to introducing money!

 

I thought it was important to include the FRONT and BACK of the coins, because our kiddos have trouble generalizing! and since when are a pile of coins all facing heads up!

Big or Little is also an important skill to teach. I also like to teach small, medium, and large (which will be added in the level 2 set) but big or little is a great place to start!

This is another “circle it” book. Once again you can use a dry erase, a bingo dabber, or just point, depending on your child’s skill level!

      

Finally number sequencing, of course number ID comes first, but right after we start sequencing! This book gives some extra practice and helps to generalize the skill. It is great for independent work time. Kids can write in the response in the box, or you can choose to use the velcro pieces included.

All of these books are GREAT for introducing the skill, generalizing the skill, practicing the skill, or independent work time. I may even include a book in one of my task boxes to switch things up a little.

You can grab these books HERE!

Most of these skills I will also teach in discrete trial direct instruction format, but keeping materials FRESH & FUN, makes all the difference!