Continuum of Mathematical Learning
Early Literacy Matters
Three-Year-Olds
Rote counts to 10.
Counts and builds sets of one to
five objects.
Counts concrete objects to five or
higher.
Names how many are in a group
up to three without counting.
Understands that numbers
always represent quantity.
Recognizes numerals 1-5.
Recognizes and describes concept
of zero.
Matches numerals to sets 1-5.
Identifies first, middle, and last in
series.
Compares numbers of objects
using language (more/less, same,
equal, one more).
Explores the concept of whole,
part, and parts that make a
whole.
Explores U.S. coins.
Combines and separates sets of
objects to create new set.
Uses numbers to predict,
estimate, and make realistic
guesses.
Recognizes numbers in
environment.
Four-Year-Olds
Number Sense and Operations
Kindergarteners
Counts by ones to at least 20.
Conceptual subitizer to 10.
Matches quantities to at least
10 with numerals.
Identifies positions of objects
in sequence (first to fifth).
Compares sets of up to at
least 10 concrete objects
using appropriate language
(none, more than, fewer
than, same, one more than)
and order numbers.
Understands the concepts of
whole and half.
Identifies U.S. coins by name.
Uses objects and drawings to
model and solve related
addition and subtraction
problems to 10.
Estimates the number of
objects in a group and
verifies results.
Vocabulary extensions:
Integration of process standards (making connections, representation, communication, problem-solving,
and reasoning and proof):
10-26-10
Page 1
Continuum of Mathematical Learning
Early Literacy Matters
Three-Year-Olds
Reproduces patterns of sound
and physical movement.
Reproduces simple patterns of
concrete objects.
Predicts what comes next to
extend a pattern.
Creates simple patterns.
Four-Year-Olds
Patterns, Relationships and Algebra
Kindergarteners
Identifies the attributes of
objects as foundation for
sorting and classifying.
Sorts and classifies objects by
color, shape, size, number,
and other properties.
Identifies, reproduces,
describes, extends, and
creates colors, rhythmic,
shapes, numbers, and letters
repeating patterns with
simple attributes.
Counts by 5’s and 10’s up to
at least 50.
Vocabulary extensions:
Integration of process standards: (making connections, representation, communication, problemsolving, and reasoning and proof)
10-26-10
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Continuum of Mathematical Learning
Early Literacy Matters
Three-Year-Olds
Recognizes, names, describes,
compares, and combines shapes
and solids.
Constructs and sorts solid shapes
and forms.
Makes connection between 2-D
and 3-D shapes.
Understands and describes
position, direction, and distance
(up, down, above, below, near,
far).
Four-Year-Olds
Geometry
Kindergarteners
Names, describes, sorts, and
draws simple twodimensional shapes.
Describes attributes of twodimensional shapes (number
of sides, number of corners).
Names and compares 3-D
shapes.
Identifies positions of objects
in space and uses
appropriate language
(beside, inside, next to, close
to, above, below, apart) to
describe and compare their
relative positions.
Demonstrates an awareness of
symmetry.
Builds understanding of size
related to space.
Vocabulary extensions:
Integration of process standards (making connections, representation, communication, problem-solving,
and reasoning and proof):
10-26-10
Page 3
Continuum of Mathematical Learning
Early Literacy Matters
Three-Year-Olds
Builds understanding of size as
related to space.
Measures length of objects.
Explores the concept of capacity
(volume).
Explores the concept of weight
and mass of objects.
Estimates length, size, distance,
and time.
Explores using standard and nonstandard measures for length,
area, weight.
Names standard tools for
measuring time, temperature,
length, capacity, weight.
Four-Year-Olds
Measurement
Kindergarteners
Recognizes and compares the
attributes of length,
volume/capacity, weight,
area, and time using
appropriate language (longer,
taller, shorter, same, heavier,
lighter, same weight, holds
more, holds less, holds the
same).
Makes and uses estimates of
measurement from everyday
experiences.
Uses nonstandard units to
measure length, area,
weight, and capacity.
Vocabulary extensions:
Integration of process standards (making connections, representation, communication, problem-solving,
and reasoning and proof):
10-26-10
Page 4
Continuum of Mathematical Learning
Early Literacy Matters
Three-Year-Olds
Compares and contrasts objects.
Four-Year-Olds
Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
Kindergarteners
Collects, sorts, organizes, and
draws conclusions about data
using concrete objects,
pictures, numbers, and
graphs.
Sorts objects and explains how
the sorting was done.
Uses charts and graphs.
Vocabulary extensions:
Integration of process standards (making connections, representation, communication, problem-solving,
and reasoning and proof):
10-26-10
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