Hello! We started back to school this week after a fabulous spring break...and boy did we have to hit the ground runnin'! Next week is testing!! Eeek!
For those of you under the common core standards in K-1, you know that money is NO LONGER in the math curriculum for us ( I have mixed emotions about this!). But, until we do away with the current standardized tests, I still feel the need to teach them at least some basics- so I address this briefly during our calendar time every day.
Teaching coin counting can be a pain because not only do students have to be able to identify which coin is which, then figure out how much it's worth, then count it all together- but they have to switch counting patterns....first by 25's, then by 10's, then by 5's, then add ones at the end. CONFUSING!! But last year a colleague taught me a teacher trick for counting money that I just LOVE!
Teach your students to tap the coins when they count. Tap the quarters 5 times, counting by fives. Tap the dimes twice, counting by fives. Tap the nickels once counting by fives. Then add one more for each penny.
So if you've never heard of this trick, I hope it makes teaching coin counting a little easier like it did for me! I love hearing awesome ideas from colleagues and teacher friends across the globe! Any other great tricks for coin counting out there that you use? Share your ideas!
