Kindergarten Integration Guide for Math and Reading

This guide, written by Joan Pickard, a Kindergarten teacher in Pensacola, Florida, combines Math and Reading software into a thematic approach to integrating math lessons into reading lessons drawn from classic children's literature. Eight stories from Stories and More 1 are used to introduce mathematics concepts.  Activities in the guide include developing math vocabulary, concepts and problem solving skills. The guide includes lessons using the TLC Mathematics for Grades 1 and 2 software, whole group instruction, games, small group activities, and blackline masters for offline activities.  Stories and More 1 and TLC Math for Grades 1 and 2 are sold separately.

Stories and More and TLC Math - From the Introduction

Since literature is such an important part of kindergarten classrooms, this TLC Math guide was designed to allow teachers a method of easily combining award-winning literature into each math lesson. In using a unit approach to instruction, students are able to use new math skills in real world situations and appreciate how math skills are interwoven into their daily lives using literature as the springboard for that integration. Classrooms using Stories and More I may choose to incorporate the math and language arts activities during the same time slot, providing activities for students to complete from both curriculum areas.

In each story of this book, you will find four concepts. For example, in I Need a Lunch Box, the teacher may choose to focus on the concept of Numbers, Money, Geometry or Data Collection. (See the Matrix of Skills and Story Titles listed below for concepts found in other sections.) Each concept is developed through three phases, Introduction, Development and Enrichment. At the end of each concept section is a whole group activity titled “Wrap It Up”. Wrap It Up provides a review and reinforces concepts taught in the previous three phases. Teachers are free to choose to fully develop one concept per book or to cover two, three, or four concepts depending on the students’ ability levels. The activities may be used to reinforce concepts already covered or as an introduction to new math concepts.

While some kindergarten students may use stories from Units C and D of Stories and More, the Kindergarten TLC Math Guide includes only stories from units A and B. Since stories increase in difficulty from Unit A through Unit B, the math skills also increase in difficulty. Thus when a kindergarten student would typically be ready for skills in a given story of literature, the math skills would also be appropriate for that level of development. Teachers not using Stories and More I will need to obtain copies of the books used in each chapter.

Kindergarten TLC Math Book
Matrix of Skills and Story Titles

SAMPLE of one chapter from Kindergarten Manual 
The Gunnywolf – Scope and Sequence 

Numbers

 -  Introduction – Numbers 10-99, Base Ten
 - Development – Tens to 90
-  Enrichment – Counting by 5’s
            Gunnywolf Numbers Section in PDF format.

Money

- Introduction – Coins in Combinations, Pennies, Nickels, Dimes 
   (optional: quarters)
- Development – Nickels and Counting by 5’s
- Enrichment – Nickels and Counting by 5’s
            Gunnywolf Money Section in PDF format.

Addition and Subtraction

- Introduction – Solving and Composing Addition Problems

- Development – Solving and Composing Take-Away and
  Comparison Subtraction

- Enrichment – Solving and Composing Addition and 
  Subtraction Problems

            Gunnywolf Addition and Subtraction Section in PDF format.

Graphing

- Introduction – Creating and Interpreting Data from a Graph

- Development – Creating and Interpreting Data from a 
   Graph Requiring Addition and Comparison Subtraction

- Enrichment – Students Create Their Own Graph
            Gunnywolf Graphing Section  in PDF format.