Support for Kindergarten Families

If your child is using Bridges Grade K, you may find the resources below helpful.

What Your Kindergartener Will Learn  (PDF)

Your child’s teacher may use the Math Skills & Concepts Student Report to communicate with you about how your child is doing in math class. This report is meant to provide an overall picture of your child’s progress at a given point in the year. It does not include every skill or idea your child will study in math class. To get a more complete picture of how your child is doing, you can also read your school’s report card, talk to your child’s teacher, and ask to see examples of your child’s work including class work and tests.

Math with Your Kindergartener (PDF)

This handout offers advice on how to make math a fun and useful part of family life with your kindergartener.

Math Vocabulary for Grade K   (PDF)

Click here to refresh your memory of key terms you may need to help with your kindergartener’s homework. Definitions include examples and pictures. If you want to look up other words, we recommend using A Maths Dictionary for Kids, which includes definitions, examples, animations, and even practice games.

Home Connections for Grade K

Pages and assignments from Home Connections book.

Online Skills Practice for Grade K

Age-appropriate computer games can help your child practice basic skills. The links below will take you to free online games that may be helpful and fun for your kindergartener. (You may need to update the browser on your computer or install free plugins like Flash or Shockwave for these games to work.)

Play each game first to make sure it matches your child’s interests and abilities. You might need to help your child get started with each game. If your child has trouble focusing, the graphics may be too distracting. Young children benefit from hands-on experiences and interaction with other people, so when you have time, play board games and talk to your child about the math he or she is doing. There is no substitute for your interest and involvement!

Counting
Speedy Pictures 1   A small quantity of dots, beads, eggs, or fingers is displayed for a few seconds, and the player clicks on the matching number. The quantities are displayed in groupings that lead children away from counting one by one, toward recognizing small groups, counting on, and adding to find the total.

Fishy Count   The player counts small numbers of animated fish. Talk to your child about different ways to count the fish, perhaps by finding groups of 2 or 3 fish.

Numeral and Word Matching
The Number Game   The player matches numerals and words (2 and two, for example). Your child might need you to read the words out loud. 

Comparing Groups
More or Less   The player chooses the group that has the most or fewest objects. You’ll probably need to help your child play this game a few times before he or she can play it alone. Help him or her think of ways to see which group has the most or the fewest items: for example, it may be easier to see which group has the most items missing than it is to count how many items are in each group.

Basic Addition with Pictures
Speedy Pictures 2  Similar to Speedy Pictures 1, players race to beat a timer as they add the number of dots shown on 2 dice, the number of fingers shown on two hands, or the number of beads shown in two rows. This one is a winner!

Farm Addition  The player adds two groups of chicks and selects the number that shows the total.

Shapes
Shape Match  In this memory game, the player matches shapes. Talk to your child about the names for the different shapes. You might also need to help your child figure out a strategy for remembering where the shapes are. 

Repeating Patterns
Pattern Mania  The player looks at a repeating pattern and then chooses the item that comes next. Ask your child to explain how he or she can tell what comes next and to show you where the pattern starts and where it ends.

More Games
The two sites below contain some of the best games for elementary math students. Look through the sites to find other games for your child to play.
Primary Games
Math Games on Fun School
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives

Math Books for Grade K

Reading books with mathematical themes can help students improve their skills and foster a good attitude toward math. This list will direct you to books that you and your child may enjoy. Your librarian, bookseller, and other Web sites can guide you to more wonderful children’s books that address mathematical themes.

Counting & Number Sense
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Anno's Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno
1,2,3 to the Zoo by Eric Carle
Let’s Count by Tana Hoban
Two Ways to Count to Ten by Ruby Dee

Adding & Subtracting
Each Orange Had 8 Slices by Paul Giganti
Rooster's Off to See the World by Eric Carle 

Time
Bats Around the Clock by Kathi Appelt
Telling Time with Big Mama Cat by Dan Harper
Cluck O'Clock by Kes Gray

Money
Benny's Pennies by Pat Brisson (used in Bridges K)
Jenny Found a Penny by Trudy Harris

Geometry
So Many Circles, So Many Squares by Tana Hoban
Shapes, Shapes, Shapes by Tana Hoban
Cubes, Cones, Cylinders, & Spheres by Tana Hoban