Why Patterning is Important
Children are asked to demonstrate their patterning skills on the FLI test for Horace Mann and Riverdale and at kindergarten interviews.
When children practice patterning, they learn to predict what will happen next in reading and math and develop reasoning and critical thinking skills.
Learning to Pattern for the FLI Test
Gather small objects or toys such as Legos, cars, beads, stickers, colorful counting cubes, or bears. Or use food items such as Goldfish crackers, dry cereal, and dry pasta. Please don’t mix the food and toys.
- Begin a simple pattern (AB, ABB, AAB) and have your preschooler continue the pattern across the table or floor, with your support as needed.
- String beads or O-shaped cereal into a pattern and address fine motor skills simultaneously.
- When your preschooler is ready, progress to more varied patterns (AABB, ABC, ABCD).
- As you place each item in the pattern, state the name of each object out loud and encourage your preschooler to do the same.
Examples:
- (AB) Car, Lego, Car, Lego, Car…
- (ABB) Red cube, blue cube, blue cube, red cube, blue cube, blue cube…
- (AAB) Macaroni, macaroni, Cheerio, macaroni, macaroni, Cheerio…
- (AABB) Paperclip, paperclip, bear, bear, paperclip, paperclip, bear, bear…
- (ABC) Purple bear, red bear, yellow bear, purple bear, red bear, yellow bear…
- (ABCD) (stickers) Heart, triangle, square, circle, heart, triangle, square, circle…
Expanding Patterning Skills
- When your child demonstrates proficient skills and confidence with patterning, have them create their own patterns.
- For added fun, your child can be the “teacher” and have you complete patterns they begin. Your child should check your work, and maybe they will find mistakes you (purposely!) make.
- When a pattern is completed, have your preschooler turn around while you remove a few random pieces, initially leaving the gaps. Your child can then review the pattern and replace the missing pieces.
More Patterning Ideas
- Patterning Game for FLI Test preparation and kindergarten interviews – Your preschooler can use these colorful geometric shapes to create the images on the pattern cards or to:
- create the AB, ABB, AAB, AABB, ABC, and ABCD patterns mentioned above
- sort by color and shape
- practice counting
- learn shape names
- make their own designs
- create a self-portrait
- Some children find magnetic patterning materials easier to manipulate
- Pattern with art materials:
- Stamps
- Markers and crayons
- Stickers
- Bingo Daubers
- Colored masking tape
- Workbooks
Sequencing for the FLI Test and Kindergarten Interviews
Days of the week, months of the year, and seasons are patterns/sequences that children should know for kindergarten interviews, and they can learn through song. (For “seasons,” the chorus of You’ve Got a Friend is helpful: “Winter, spring, summer or fall, All you’ve got to do is call.”)
Check out more about sequencing:
Stephanie Sigal, M.A. CCC-SLP, prepares preschoolers for kindergarten interviews and the FLI Test. She works with children in their Upper East Side of Manhattan homes and on Zoom. Please reach out to Stephanie to find out more.