Jamal Brown - Daniel Hale Williams 

Teaching Arithmetic and Math Concepts To Headstarters

Jamal Brown                    Daniel Hale Williams 
                               2710 S. Dearborn
                               CHICAGO IL 60616 
                               (773) 534-9226   

Objectives:

             To help students recognize numbers, compare sizes of objects, and 
recognize one-to-one correspondence.  The students will learn to recognize 
numbers 1 to 5 as they are named.  They will also be able to count up to 5 and 
place items into groups of one to three as directed.  In addition, students 
will compare objects by size (eg,small, medium, large).  These activities are 
designed for three year old Headstarters at Daniel Hale Williams Elementary 
School.

Materials Needed:

              Blocks
              Paper Sticks
              String and Beads
              Tongue depressors
              Construction Paper
              Glue
              Trays
              Puzzles
              Story Book
              
             These materials are modeled by the teacher and used by the 
students in learning centers.  The centers are occupied by three children.      
We will have three learning centers.  One center contains blocks.  Center two 
contains puzzles and the third center is the library in which the teacher will 
read a counting oriented story. 

Strategy:

             The children will learn through discovery.  The teacher will model 
each exercise by describing what a block is, its color, and the number of 
blocks that they will use.  Next, the teacher will provide string and beads to 
continue the process.  Children will volunteer to discover numbers, counting 
and the comparing of blocks by size.  These activities will strengthen their 
gross motor skills.  Furthermore, the students will glue paper sticks to 
construction paper under the direction and instruction of the teacher.  This 
exercise will show that the children can interact socially with one another 
as well understand the basic concept of one-to-one correspondence.  Finally, 
the Assistant will read the storybook to the class; the story contains numbers 
and objects that relates to placing items into groups.  These tasks are helpful 
in the development of better cognitive skills for children.
                     
Performance Assessment:   

              Students will perform each task appropriately after the 
teacher's demonstration.  Formally, the children are assessed after 45 days of 
repeated and consistent exposure to the math concepts.  Informally, the teacher 
is observing each child to evaluate the child's performance on a daily basis. 
These observations are ultimately declared to a federal agency of the 
government.

Conclusion:

               Students have gained a thorough and basic knowledge of number 
recognition, one-to-one correspondence, and comparing objects by size.

Reference:

               Mr. Jamal Brown: The Math Doctor volume 2