At Explorer Elementary, Taylor Graber’s kindergarten classroom is buzzing with a new kind of energy. Through her Innovative Teacher Grant, funded by the Goddard Education Foundation, Mrs. Graber is redefining math time. By replacing traditional drills with structured, tactile play, she is ensuring her students develop a deeper, more intuitive understanding of mathematical concepts.
“In kindergarten, most of my students are kinesthetic learners. Having hands-on activities allows students to get up, move, and learn through direct experiences,” Mrs. Graber explains. “With these new resources, students will practice counting, recognizing numbers, identifying shapes, and understanding basic addition and subtraction problems.”
The impact, however, stretches far beyond math stations. As students manipulate small objects like nuts, bolts, and locks, they are refining their fine motor skills and navigating social-emotional opportunities like teamwork, sharing, and collective problem-solving.
By investing in these resources, the Goddard Education Foundation is helping Mrs. Graber build a rock-solid foundation that these students will carry with them as they promote to higher grades. This project ensures that for these young Explorer students, math isn’t just a subject they study, it’s a world they can touch, build, and successfully navigate.
Thank you Goddard Education Foundation for helping ensure our youngest learners aren’t just learning numbers; they are learning how to be confident learners for life.