Kindergarten Math in SPS

In Seattle Public Schools, we believe all students have mathematical brilliance. Your child’s teacher seeks to cultivate that brilliance to develop your child into a mathematical thinker and problem solver. Your child will see who sees the value of math in their life.

Your child will learn and develop mathematical ways of thinking through mathematical practices. Some examples of math practices are using math to model authentic situations, persevering in solving problems, constructing and critiquing mathematical justifications, and representing mathematical ideas visually. Read more about the Standards for Mathematical Practices.

Effective math instruction begins by building a strong conceptual understanding of how numbers work (number sense). This is the foundation which leads students towards procedural fluency (using flexible, efficient, and accurate strategies). Effective math instruction includes opportunities for students to apply their understanding and fluency to real-world mathematical problems.

In Kindergarten your children will focus on three important areas of mathematics that are aligned with the Common Core standards – Counting, Addition and Subtraction, and Shapes.

Counting: There are three big skills to practice when learning to count:

1. Students learn to know number names and the counting sequence to 100.
2. Students learn that when counting, each object counted or touched corresponds to a number in the counting sequence (one to one correspondence).
3. Students learn that the last number in their count tells them ‘how many’ objects were counted (Cardinality).

Putting together and taking apart numbers: Students talk about numbers and play with objects to understand how quantities can be combined to make numbers up to ten or broken apart into smaller quantities. These skills are used to explore numbers between 11 and 20 and the place value system.

Shapes: Students will learn to identify, classify, and compose shapes based on features like the number of edges, angles, and curves.

See the parent guide in the right-hand column or the unit descriptions below for more details. 

Try This Math at Home

Practice counting regularly with your child. They should know how to count to 10 and beyond and understand what the numbers represent. Play games that involve counting, such as hide and seek, and incorporate counting into everyday activities, such as climbing stairs or eating.