How to Assess Preschool Math Skills

Summary

This video provides creative and hands-on strategies for teaching young children about patterns and seriation, crucial early cognitive skills. The presenter shares techniques using various manipulatives such as colored squares, buses, pencils, pasta, and even sound patterns like clapping. By turning learning into engaging games, children can develop their understanding of patterns and sequences without feeling like they’re being tested. The video emphasizes the importance of making learning fun and interactive, and encourages educators to be patient and adapt based on the child's readiness for different levels of complexity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Use hands-on activities to assess early childhood learning, making assessments fun and engaging.
• 😀 Pattern recognition is an important skill to assess using different objects, like colored squares, mini erasers, or pasta.
• 😀 For color patterns, try using multiple patterns such as AB, ABB, and ABC to build students' understanding gradually.
• 😀 Introduce sound patterns (e.g., clapping or tapping) as a way to assess auditory pattern recognition, though it may be more challenging.
• 😀 Seriation skills can be assessed by asking students to order objects by size (e.g., pencils, buses, or straws).
• 😀 To help students with seriation, start with simpler objects (like buses) before moving on to more complex items (like pencils).
• 😀 Use manipulatives such as nesting blocks to help students visualize how objects can fit together based on size.
• 😀 Keep pattern activities flexible, allowing for different types of patterns (color, shape, size, etc.) to keep students engaged.
• 😀 Create a relaxed environment for assessments by turning activities into games, making them feel less like formal tests.
• 😀 Assessments should be adapted to the developmental level of the students, with more challenging tasks introduced as they progress.
• 😀 Observing students during play can reveal natural patterning behaviors, helping to assess skills without structured tests.

Q & A

What is the main goal of using patterning exercises in early childhood education?

The main goal of using patterning exercises is to help children develop their understanding of sequences and repetition, which are foundational skills for later mathematical thinking and problem-solving.

What are some examples of pattern types mentioned in the script?

The script mentions several pattern types, including AB, ABB, and ABC patterns. For example, AB might be Green, Red, Green; ABB could be Green, Green, Red; and ABC might be Green, Red, Yellow.

Why does the speaker suggest using different materials like mini erasers or pasta for patterning?

The speaker suggests using materials like mini erasers or pasta to make patterning exercises more engaging and hands-on, helping children visually and physically interact with patterns rather than just seeing them in abstract form.

How does the speaker recommend helping children with sound patterns?

The speaker recommends starting with simple sound patterns, such as 'Pat, Pat, Clap,' and gradually increasing the complexity. These types of patterns are more challenging and can be used during transitions or group activities.

What is seriation, and how is it assessed in the script?

Seriation is the ability to arrange objects in order based on a specific attribute, like size. The speaker assesses it by using objects like buses or pencils and guiding children to place them in order from the smallest to the largest.

Why does the speaker suggest starting with buses rather than pencils for seriation exercises?

The speaker recommends starting with buses because they are easier for children to line up and visually compare for size, whereas pencils can be trickier due to their shape, which might cause confusion when arranging them.

What role do manipulatives play in the educational activities mentioned?

Manipulatives, such as pattern blocks, mini erasers, or straws, play a crucial role in making the learning process more interactive and tangible. They help children understand abstract concepts like patterns and size by providing a physical representation.

What should a teacher do if a child struggles with seriation exercises?

If a child struggles with seriation exercises, the teacher can provide additional support by guiding them through the process, asking questions like 'Which one is the biggest?' to help the child begin to grasp the concept of ordering objects by size.

What is the significance of making assessment activities feel like games?

Making assessment activities feel like games helps reduce the pressure on children, making learning enjoyable and natural. It encourages engagement and allows children to explore concepts in a playful, low-stakes environment.

How does the speaker recommend tracking children's progress with patterning and seriation?

The speaker suggests observing children's ability to complete patterns and seriation tasks using various materials, noting how they manage different complexity levels and adjusting activities to suit their developmental stage.