What happened before the lesson?

Where did the idea come from? 

• “Developing Pictures”  pages 28–31 in Showcasing Mathematics for the Young Child. 

What had the children learned BEFORE this lesson? 
This child knows the counting sequence 1 to 5 and can count sets of objects 1 to 5. 

What did you plan to do AFTER this lesson?
I continued this assessment by asking this child to do the same task with the quantity FIVE. She had difficulty when I added or subtracted more than TWO. 

What's happening during the lesson?

Objective: The child will demonstrate his ability to remember the quantity of counters, visualize the amount added or taken away, and repeat the process. 

Introduction:
Set the child at ease by asking her to play a game. I explained that I would be putting some counters on a board, covering it with another color of board, and then either taking some counters away or adding some counters. It would be her job to remember what I did and repeat the action. 

Procedure:

1. I placed TWO objects on a colored card and then covered it. I then added one more under the card.
2. I asked the child to repeat the action. 
3. We checked it by removing the cover cards and counting the counters.
4. Since she was correct, I then placed FOUR counters on the board, covered it and took one counter away. 
5. I asked the child to repeat the action.
6. Again, we checked it by removing the cover cards and counting the counters. 
   

What will I do after the lesson?

How did your plans change as you taught this lesson?
In an assessment such as this, I begin with a set of three and then progress to four and then on to five and six. This child followed that progression and I stopped with five.  

What would you do differently if you taught it again?
I would have her physically match my objects to her objects as we counted to see if she had made the correct configuration.  

How would you describe the teaching that occurred using the words on the Continuum of Teaching Behaviors? 
I DEMONSTRATED by actively displaying the problem while the child observed what I did. Then while she repeated the procedure, I simply ACKNOWLEDGED her behaviors by giving her encouragement.