Category Archives: Number Sense
The Progression of Early Number and Counting
If you’re not a pre-k, kindergarten, or 1st-grade teacher, you need to find one and give them a hug after watching this video. They do the work of an army and many times their work goes unnoticed. There’s so much happening … Continue reading
Geometric Subitizing: A Different Kind of Number Talk
These Geometric Subitizing Cards have been in beta the past two years. I asked our buddy Joe Schwartz to take them for a test drive last spring and he reported back. Joe’s all in. How do they work? Let’s play… Last week I took them for … Continue reading
Making Sense of Invert and Multiply
As elementary teachers, we rarely have the opportunity to explore division of a fraction by a fraction. When we do, it’s normally accompanied with Keep-Change-Flip or the saying “Yours is not the reason why, just invert and multiply.” Both are conceptual … Continue reading
The Progression of Addition and Subtraction
The more I create… the more I learn. Here is the 3rd installment of this whole Making Sense Series which has truly forced me to be a better teacher. A more educated teacher. I can’t stress enough how much I’ve … Continue reading
The Progression of Division
Last month I posted The Progression of Multiplication hoping that a couple of friends and parents would find it helpful. Well, here’s my stab at the progression of division. I understand that there’s lots of ways to model division and this is only … Continue reading
The Post-it Holds the Mystery Number
There’s no denying the power of the Post-it. Many brilliant minds within the #MTBoS have harnessed its’ power to help students make sense of mathematics and this week was no different. Only this time we infused them into a Marilyn Burns must have… … Continue reading
Posted in 3-5, Algebra, Making Math Accessible, Number Sense, Strategy Development
Tagged Algebra, Marilyn Burns, patterns
16 Comments
Take it to the Bank
It’s never been a secret that Superman fears Kryptonite. But I think the same can be said for many 2nd grade teachers and the way they feel about teaching money. There’s no way around it…teaching money to students is hard. With … Continue reading
The Progression of Multiplication
There’s a lot happening in elementary mathematics and it’s really tough for teachers to keep up with it all…let alone parents and administrators. I keep reminding myself that the turtle won the race. It’s my hope that in creating and … Continue reading
More Bang for your Buck: The Power of the Estimation Station
Time IS NOT on our side! In a 1st grade planning session I was asked,”How do we fit it all in?” I loved this question because it asked for a solution to problem we know exists. We collectively tackled this question … Continue reading
Posted in counting, Estimation, K-2, Making Math Accessible, Math Tools, Number Sense, Planning
Tagged Andrew Stadel, comparing numbers, estimation, graphing, number lines, ordering numbers
8 Comments
Not Your Mom’s Flashcards: Conceptual Understanding of Multiplication
What’s the purpose of flashcards? There’s 2 answers I frequently hear and only one I agree with. Answer 1: help kids know/memorize their facts Answer 2: help students build fluency through the automatization of strategy I know how Tracy and many … Continue reading
Posted in 3-5, Estimation, Fact Fluency, Games, Math Tools, Number Sense
Tagged 3rd grade, fact fluency, flash cards, fluency, multiplication, Steve Wyborney
26 Comments
