Counting Kit: Getting Started
Thanks for choosing Bond Blocks! The Counting Kit includes everything you need to get started.
Tip: The Getting Started instructions take approximately three hours to complete.
Complete the sections in order, over time. There is too much information to do in one day.
1. Unboxing
- Have a look through the physical materials provided with the kit such as the blocks, cubes, spinners, write-n-wipe sleeves.
- If you have had a kit handed over to you watch the unboxing video. Use this to check that you have everything.
2. USB
Locate the USB that arrived with your kit. This contains:
• The PDFs used to print the relevant activity boards for student use. (School Kits Only)
• The Introductory Video PL.
- These files are only available on the USB. They are the only two files that are not on the website.
- Copy the USB to your school intranet.
- Watch the introductory Video PL.
3. Using bondblocks.com
The website contains the lessons and essential information.
Note, the Bond Blocks website is bondblocks.com, not Dr Paul Swan’s website.
- Get familiarised with the layout of your kit’s section of the Bond Blocks Website. Head to bondblocks.com and look at the top menu and click on Counting Kit to open the dropdown.
- The grey menu buttons are for teachers/assistants. They contain support books, downloads and videos that answer common questions. Familiarize yourself with Getting Started, Assessment and Implementation.
- The coloured square boxes match the activity boards. They contain the videos for each activity. These have been made to show to the students so that they receive consistent teaching from year to year. Scroll down on these pages to see the related mathematics, language and how to differentiate each activity.
4. Implementation Planners
- Download and read the relevant planner.
Whole Class Teaching
Foundation
Tier 1 Whole Class Teaching.
- Emphasis on Teacher Led activities.
- Also includes Exploratory and Guided Play activities.
Small Group Teaching
Pre-Foundation
Tier 1 teaching in small groups.
- Emphasis on Exploratory and Guided Play activities.
- Also includes teacher led activities.
Intervention Only
Tier 2 Small Group Intervention
Tier 3 Individual Intervention
5. Assessment
- Administer the Screening test (Page 37)
6. Activity Boards
The last step is to print your activity boards and start using the planner
- Print the relevant activity boards for your students.
- Use colour (essential)
- Ensure your printer is set of ‘actual size’ or ‘100%’ (essential)
- Print half x number of students for A3 Teacher Led Activity Boards. For example, 12 of each.
- Print 1 x each A4 card for Exploratory and Guided Play Activity Cards.
7. Prepping Teacher Resources
Prepare these teacher resources to implement Bond Blocks using an “I do, We do, You do” approach.
Making Magnetic Bond Blocks
- Create your teacher set of magnetic Bond Blocks
Enlarged Paper Bond Blocks
- Create your teacher set of Enlarged Paper Bond Blocks
Class Organisation and Storage Tips
