Scissors
When scissors are held correctly, and when they fit a child's hand well, cutting activities
will exercise the very same muscles which are needed to manipulate a pencil in a
mature tripod grasp. The correct scissor position is with the thumb and middle finger
in the handles of the scissors, the index finger on the outside of the handle to
stabilize, with fingers four and five curled into the palm.
Establishment of hand dominance is still developing at this point.
This refers to the ability of the eyes to work together to follow and
hold an object in the line of vision as needed.
This involves accuracy in placement, direction, and spatial awareness.
Math
When people hear the word math, many think of solving math problems,
like 1+1=2. However math is much more than that! Mathematics for young
children should be rich and varied and have a conceptually oriented,
meaningful and focused purpose.
It includes:
Number and operations: Number sense is much more than merely counting, it involves the ability to think and work with numbers easily and to understand their uses and relationships. Number sense is about understanding the different uses for numbers (describe quantities and relationships, informational tools). Number sense is the ability to count accurately and competently, to be able to continue counting—or count on—from a specific number as well as to count backwards, to see relationships between numbers, and to be able to take a specific number apart and put it back together again. It is about counting, adding, and subtracting. Counting and becoming familiar with numbers will help your children understand all other aspects of math
Patterns, functions and algebra: Patterns are things that repeat; relationships are things that are connected by some kind of reason. They are important because they help us understand the underlying structure of things; they help us feel confident and capable of knowing what will come next, even when we can't see it yet. Patterns and relationships are found in music, art, and clothing, as well as in other aspects of math such as counting and geometry. Understanding patterns and relationships means understanding rhythm and repetition as well as ordering from shortest to longest, smallest to largest, sorting, and categorizing.
Geometry and spatial sense: Geometry is the area of mathematics that involves shape, size, space, position, direction, and movement, and describes and classifies the physical world in which we live. Young children can learn about angles, shapes, and solids by looking at the physical world. Spatial sense gives children anawareness of themselves in relation to the people and objects around them.
Measurement: Measurement is finding the length, height, and weight of an object using units like inches, feet, and pounds. Time is measured using hours, seconds, and minutes. Measurement is an important way for young children to look for relationships in the real world. By practicing measurement your child will learn how big or little things are and how to figure that out.
Data analysis and probability: Using graphs and charts, people organize and interpret information and see relationships. Graphing is another way to show and see information mathematically. Charts, including calendars, can be used to organize everyone's weekly activities. Even older children in elementary school may find it hard to keep track of calendars, but, when adults use them with children, calendars can be helpful tools to learning and understanding how we organize information.
To know math is to do math. Young children need opportunities to solve
problems, reason and think, communicate in a variety of ways, represent
concepts with symbols, and make connections between specific areas of
mathematics, mathematics and other subjects, and mathematics and their world.
Children learn math by doing, talking, reflecting, discussing, observing,
investigating, listening and reasoning.
