Math skills your child needs before they begin Grade 1

So your child is going back to school a 1st grader! Preschool and kindergarten years are over, this means your child would need to prepare themselves to face foundational math concepts, build their skills, and progress through school.

Through preschool and kindergarten, your child was introduced to basic concepts like numbers, counting, adding and subtracting, shapes of objects, and sorting of objects—which now become a strong base for the next step in math. Concepts are about to get a little more complex in Grade 1.

As a parent, it could be worrisome to think about whether your child could cope with math because, let’s face it, not all of us take to numbers naturally. 

But that’s the funny thing–the math doesn’t have to be challenging nor should only be taught in school. Mathematics is a vital part of all our lives. We come across so many math concepts in our daily lives, from the hexagon-shaped beehives to adding ½ teaspoon of sugar twice in recipes to get a 1 teaspoon; a lot of math can be understood and learned right at home. 

Grade 1 curriculum can differ from state to state, but a common theme and pattern can be seen throughout to ensure every child meets the overall education standards.

Math concepts your child will learn in grade 1 

• Numbers and counting: 

-Counting by 1s, 5s, 10s, up to 100

-Identifying numbers in the ones and tens place 

-Reading and writing numbers up to 100

-Understanding simple fractions like ½, ¼, and whole numbers

-Counting backward 

• Addition and subtraction:

-Add three 1-digit numbers within 20

-Learning the concept of place value while adding and subtracting 2-digit numbers

-Writing and understanding the mathematical symbols like +, -, =, <, >

-Solve problems involving an unknown number like 2 + x = 8

• Sorting and patterns:

-Being able to sort objects by features like shapes, size, color, function

-Able to recognize 2-D and 3-D patterns

-Being able to recognize what comes next to make an identical pattern, for example, if a pattern like green, yellow, green, yellow is placed–what comes next after the last yellow object

• Measurements and comparisons:

-Able to measure using a ruler

-Compare length, weights, and volumes of different objects

• Time and money:

-Be able to tell time by the half-hour and hour

-Make connections between time and events, teaching kids about concepts like after, before, shorter, and longer

-Identify different coins and understand their value

-Able to sum up the value of coins to make a greater value

Math can help children become logical thinkers, and as we encourage them to develop a love for reading and learning, we need to nurture their curiosity and enthusiasm for math. The approach to learning math should be a problem-solving skill instead of rote memorization.

You can also easily hone their math skills by incorporating math into your daily lives through routine activities like cooking, counting, sorting toys, etc. Math is all around us, and kids learn so much better when learning is made fun. So incorporate games and activities while teaching math skills, and your child will soon develop a love for doing math.

Head on over to byjuslearning.com to learn more about our Active Learning approach to math, language and reading for children between Pre-K and Grade 3.  

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Sources: 

https://learning.ccsso.org/common-core-state-standards-initiative