Mrs. Bryer's Kindergarten Homework

Fun ways to reinforce kindergarten skills!

Marvelous Math

Play with Dice

  • Roll a die and practice counting the dots and writing the number
  • Roll 2 dice, add the numbers and write the number sentence (2+3=5)
  • Roll 2 dice and tell which one is the least, most, or if they are equal/the same
  • Play any board games with dice that requires you to move that many spaces

A Deck of Cards

Finding a large deck of cards at the dollar store makes this more exciting, somehow.

Take our the J, K, Q. Shuffle the cards and deal them evenly. Now each player flips a card and the highest card wins those cards. IMPORTANT- all of the winning cards go in the same pile. In our classroom, it is important that the children work together with their partner to get through the pile of cards quickly. This is a skill game not a competition. They are working on identifying the numbers quickly and knowing which is more. This may sound a lot like a game you played as a child, War.


  • More- player with the highest card
  • Least- player that has the lowest card
  • addition- each player flips a card, add the two cards together and make a number sentence. The child with the highest card gets to say it out loud.
  • double digit numbers- each player flips a card, put the two together to make the highest number (larger digit first) or the lowest (smaller digit first). Read the number.
  • subtraction- each player flips a card, subtract the smaller number from the larger number. The child with the lowest card gets to say the number sentence out loud.

Sort It!

Sorting and classifying is a big skill in school. We start simple by sorting by attributes of color, size, and shape. By the end of the year some children are sorting by more specific attributes. When sorting it is important for children to verbalize how/why they sorted. "I sorted by color," "I sorted by letters in my name and letters not in my name."

  • You can sort anything! Fruit Loops, colored Goldfish, buttons, girls/boys, etc.
  • Take it up a notch. After your child is able to sort correctly and describe why, ask which group has more? Less? If I add the red and blue groups together, how many are there altogether?

Practice counting to 100!

Number Rhymes

Children need to be able to recognize and write their numbers 0-9 quickly in kindergarten. This skill is very important in our math world. The number rhymes below are ones we use in class. They really help some children learn to identify the numbers as well as write. If they look at the number and cannot recognize it, ask them if they remember the rhyme for it. Soon they will get to a point where they say the first two or three letters of a rhyme and remember the number identification.

1- straight line down

2- Around and back on the railroad track. Two! Two!

3- Around and around the tree, that's how you make a number 3.

4- little line down, little line over, jump to the top and drop a big line down.

5- short neck, belly fat, jump to the top and give it a hat.

6- down and around

7- over and down from heaven, that's how you make a number 7.

8- make an S and close the gate, that's how you make a number 8.

9- make a circle, drop the line, that's how you make a number 9.

Alphabetic Principle

ABC Hunt

You can search for letters anywhere! Start by searching for letters in your child's name. Once they "own" those letters move on to the entire alphabet. Provide support where needed but make sure to give your child time to think about the next letter and look for it. For those just learning, it can be a bit slow.

  • search on menus
  • on magazines and candy bars while waiting to check out
  • on billboards
  • in magazines
  • in the newspaper ( This one is great because they can actually circle the letters they find!)
  • at breakfast on the cereal box


I can not express how important that correct handwriting is. With so many children in one classroom, I am able to teach the letters but not always see that they are writing them correctly. When writing at home, refer to the handout that I sent home in the homework bag. Use the language that goes with each letter. Paper and pencil is not fun. Below are some fun mediums to practice writing letters:

  • shaving cream
  • put salt on a cookie sheet with sides
  • sidewalk chalk
  • rainbow write with markers
  • use a cool pen that has multiple colors
  • write letters on each other's backs and see if you can tell what it is
  • make play dough letter (builds fine motor muscles in hands too)


You can never read too much to your child! Try to read, on average, at least 15 minutes a day. When you are reading, snuggled close with your child, you are modeling what readers do. Some extentions while reading could be:

  • Take a "picture walk" before reading. Turn the pages, look at the pictures, and predict what the book might be about.
  • Think aloud. Stop at points in the book that lend themselves to "what do you think?" questions. Be sure to support your child's thinking. Their connections are not always the author's intention.
  • At the end of the story you can ask, "If you were ___, what would you have done?" "What do you think would happen next?"
  • Ask your child if they liked the book. Why or why not?
  • Before reading go on a letter hunt. Can you find the letters of your name?
  • When reading repetitive text, pause to see if your child knows what comes next. For example, Brown Bear, Brown Bear or The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.

Fine Motor

Fine motor development is important for stamina in writing. Some children need more opportunities to refine their muscles. Some fun ways to work those hand muscles are:

  • play dough- roll snakes and balls
  • pinch and tear paper- create a masterpiece without scissors!
  • Light Brights are great for fine motor development
  • kneeding dough
  • scissor work
  • sorting small objects with tweezers (ex. beans or cotton balls)