Math Rotations in a Pre-K Classroom Using Task Boxes

Today’s guest blogger, Cassandra, is a Pre-K/Transitional Kindergarten teacher who loves exploring different ways to incorporate learning and play into the classroom. She enjoys sharing simple ideas that produce big results.

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Have you ever wondered what Math Rotations looks like in a Pre-K classroom using Task boxes? Wonder no more! I’m going to walk you through a typical Math Monday in a Pre-K classroom.

For the month of September, my class and I are focusing on specific math topics. We will be working with 2- dimensional shapes, counting, and identifying numbers 1-10, quantities, patterns and number sense. Sounds like a lot? It isn’t if it’s done correctly!

Math can be so much fun and engaging as well as successful when you have the right tools and products to use. I live by using Michaela’s products from Especially Education. They are easy, FUNctional and most importantly- practical!

My goal is to always instill independence with the learning process to better equip my students before they head off to Kindergarten. But in order to ensure my kiddos are getting the most out of our math rotations I always start with a whole group lesson!

Since being introduced to Number Sense, I have made it a point to incorporate the topic of Number sense to my students during our whole group class meeting. I introduce a number a week to ensure all of my kiddos can fully recognize and name the numbers and their properties.

We go over the number, the word form, tally, quantity, and using a ten frame. I gather all of my friends to the carpet and give each of them a white board and marker. We work on our number sense using our white boards as a whole group before transitioning to our independent and small group activities. We also do this with shapes as well. The kiddos love it and it makes for whole group teaching so much easier.

Now to the good stuff; Independent centers with Task Boxes and Small Group Instruction! Using the task boxes from Especially Education makes for peaceful and successful independent centers. On a typical Monday I have a few task box options for my students to work with and explore. We have a couple counting activities, patterns, shape matching and most recently number sense. The class has 6 minutes per center and rotates when time is up.

One of our center rotations includes visiting me for small group instruction. I know 6 minutes doesn’t seem like a whole lot of time, but have you tried keeping 4 and 5 year olds engaged in one area for a long period of time where they are working quietly? Trust me it’s hard! So finding something that is simple, meets our standards and gets my kiddos engaged was so important.

I make tons of copies and for good reason! My small groups include 3 friends at a time which means making 3 sets of copies of the activities I will be using. That way each student has their set they are working on and they don’t have to wait. Using my time wisely during our 6 minute instruction is so essential and Michaela’a task boxes makes it all possible.

Today we used September’s Made for Me Literacy Number sense task box in small group. Let me rave just a little about how great my kiddos did with this! I was so excited and proud to see how they were excelling using our new task box! The class rotated and explored
other math related centers including drawing shapes in sand, latter block puzzles and ‘I can count to 10’ mats.

So if you are in search for a product that you and your kiddos will absolutely love… Especially Education has task boxes for you!

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Cassandra F.