How to Reinforce Number Recognition with Kindergarteners

Learning should be fun, and one way of making it fun is by turning lessons into games. If you'd like to reinforce number recognition with your kindergarteners, you can devise number games to help them know the difference between numerals. Games that involve music, movement, dancing, or using your hands will always get kids excited about learning. More importantly, they will learn to recognize numbers and not even realize they are being taught a useful lesson.

Things You'll Need

• Whiteboard
• Wipe-off markers
• Play-Doh or non-toxic modeling clay
• Yarn
• Glue
• Construction paper
• Laminating film
• Student whiteboards

Instructions

1. Use your whiteboard and some wipe-off markers. Hand a wipe-off marker to a student who has been sitting quietly with his hands in his lap. Ask the student to stand up and bunny-hop to the whiteboard and write a number. Limit the kindergarteners to numbers 1 through 10. For example, the student can hop to the whiteboard and write the number 4. Continue the game by asking another quiet student to skip to the whiteboard and write the number 8. Vary the types of steps for each student. Some students can crawl, others can do scissor or baby steps. By playing this game, your students will reinforce writing and recognizing numbers. They won't even realize they're learning. You can also write the numbers on the whiteboard for your students and ask them to hop, skip, or dance to the board and draw a circle or square around a specific number. Your kids will love this activity, because it allows them to move and write on the whiteboard.

2. Pull out the Play-Doh and have your students practice shaping the squishy clay into numbers. Call out a number and ask the students to mold their dough.

3. Hand out some yarn and ask students to make numbers by arranging the yarn into the shape of a specific number. Let them use the yarn to glue numbers onto a piece of construction paper.

4. Write numbers on ten letter-sized construction papers of varying colors. Make sure you write the numbers one through ten. Laminate the construction paper. Use masking tape to tape the papers to the floor. Make sure they are secure. Choose one of your students to find a specific number and hop on it. Let each one of your students have a turn. Your kids will love this game, because they are allowed to move around. If you like, you can turn on some fun music and have your kids dance on specific numbers.

5. Pass out small whiteboards and wipe-off markers. Call out numbers. Ask your students to write the number they hear. Once they write the number, they must hold up their whiteboards so you can determine who is still having trouble writing and recognizing numbers. The children still having difficulty can receive extra instruction from the teacher.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you keep your number-recognition lessons light and fun. You want the children to enjoy the process of learning how to recognize numbers.

• Use music and movement in your lessons whenever possible. This keeps your students actively engaged in the lesson.