Here are some more tips to help your kids through the basic understanding of Primary 1 maths!
- Counting objects, reading and writing from 1 to 20 in numerals
Now that your children have learnt to count from 1 to 20 vocally, it’s now time to have them move to the next stage by writing out the numerals from 1 to 20! If they are capable, have them write one to ten in word forms too! Don’t worry about the spelling as they will most probably misspell at this age.
Once your kids have completed the challenge, you could have them try their hands on number sequence exercises too, like 1, _, 3, 4, _, etc.
- Comparing quantities and numbers
It’s time to have your children become comfortable with the difference in quantity. For example, you could lay out five apples on one side and three oranges on the other side and have your children calculate how many more apples there are than oranges. You can also use pictures to do this kind of comparison too.
Once they get the basic understanding, move on to the more abstract questions, like asking them whether 5 is greater or lesser than 9.
- Understanding the concept of number bonds
“Number bonds” basically means the relationship between numbers, like how 2 and 3 makes 5, or how 4 taken from 7 gives you 3. Do this with single digit numbers first instead of 10 and above. Once your children have begun to understand this concept nicely, you can slowly move up to 10 and above. You can also use animal pictures or toys to guide your children with this concept at the beginning until they have a better understanding.
Note that this part of the process isn’t about having your children calculate addition and subtraction yet – it’s just letting them see the numbers are made up of parts first, and how these parts interact with each other.