Hi Friends! This is Katie King from Queen of the First Grade Jungle! I am so lucky to be guest blogging for the WONDERFUL and oh-so-sweet Crystal!
I wanted to talk today about Number Sense!! And if you can stick with me until the end, you will get a great freebie!
Let me give you a little back story that goes with this post— as primary teachers I am sure most of you can relate to this little tidbit.
Summer of 2011 I am sitting in a math training. The big, scary 4th and 5th grade teachers are complaining because we little bitty primary teachers gave them kids who can't do ANYTHING.
(Just so you can follow along PT- primary teacher and IT- Intermediate teacher)
(Just so you can follow along PT- primary teacher and IT- Intermediate teacher)
PT: Wait. I am confused. Aren't their MAP scores great?
IT: Well, yes.
PT: Don't they do a fabulous job on the State Testing?
IT: Ummm, you are right.
PT: Well then, do tell us what we can work on please?
IT: They know the processes and the procedures, but they have no number sense. They can figure out about any problem given a large amount of time, but they are not automatic.
ding, ding, ding- Upper Grade Teachers-1 Primary Teachers- 0
After I consoled my bruised ego, I realized they were right. I was guilty, OH-so-guilty, of having my kids follow our math program, but not giving them enough time with numbers to develop a strong number sense.
And then I discovered…
I realized my kids needed time to play, time to discover, and time to talk! They needed to explore these numbers!
After installing Math Work Stations, I feel so much more confident about my students going on to the next grade level.
NOW, my kids work with numbers. NOW, they have a strong number sense. NOW, I feel confident sticking up for myself to those Big, Bad Intermediate Teachers 🙂
Here are a few of the Math Work Stations that I love so much!
If you are lucky enough to have technology is your room, these two very similar math games are fantastic! I love that the students have to rely on the mental 100 chart that they are building to find the hidden objects/friends. These games are definitely classroom favorites! Click on the pictures to check them out:
I wish the picture below was better, but the little girl is playing a beginning of the year game where she draws a card out of a pile. She begins counting on from that number. SO essential and SO easy to adapt for any time of the year (pull in skip counting, even and odd, counting backwards).
This little girl is playing Number Line Squeeze. She and a partner are having great Math Talks with language like “greater than” and “less than.”
Speaking of greater than, less than talk- that gets us to my freebie I made for you all! I feel that this game is a great way to develop math language and work on your students' number sense at the same time. Click on the picture below to go to my TPT store to collect your freebie!
I hope you enjoyed my Math Work Stations and walk away with at least one new idea! I ALWAYS enjoy the chance to ramble on about my passions! If you haven't dropped my blog, please take a minute to do so, I would LOVE to have you!
Jennifer Tilton says
I agree with your about number sense. That is something I think Common Core will help with so much. I also need to do more with counting on. I like the number squeeze game!
Jennifer
kindertrips
Tammy says
Have you read "Number Sense Routines" by Jessica Shumway? It might be another great resource to add to your collection. It's full of number sense warm-ups for K-3. I'd highly recommend it. Thanks for the post.
❀ Tammy
Forever in First
Heather says
I puffy heart love this post! I am moving from 8 years in third grade down to kinder. One of the biggest reasons I asked my principal to allow me to switch grades is because of my passion for preparing kids in reading AND math. I feel so strongly about developing number sense. I hope this post makes teachers reflect. You must be an amazing teacher to have that conversation, reflect, and act!! The kids in your class are lucky.
Heather
Kickin' it in Kinder
Kim and Kelly says
Don't you just love abcya.com?? My students are always using it. 🙂 We play the numberline squeeze game all the time. We change it up sometimes just for some fun to match the theme or book. We did it with Rainbow Fish and the children each had a rainbow fish to use and "squeeze" the number! Thanks for the freebie. It is adorable!!! 🙂
Primary Paradise says
Thank you for this post. Love ideas on teaching number sense. I need to buy the Math work Stations book. Never used the numberline squeeze game…will use it this year.
Tammy
primaryparadise.blogspot
Amy says
I totally agree with you. I have struggled all year balancing the text with hands-on exploration. A few of my collegues and administration don't necessarily agree. . . so much about test scores and getting through the book to prepare them for the next grade. . . ugh! Looking forward to doing more with math stations this year.
pennies for luck says
I love these ideas! My grade level did a book study on this book last year. It was so awesome! If I had not had this book for my first year teaching math in Kinder, I would have been SO lost!
Jennifer
Teaching with Grace
amaclin says
Since I have been reading the D5 and thinking about reading centers, math centers have been on my mind too. These are some great ideas! I think I may have to get that Debbie Diller book.
S. Simpson says
Thanks for a great post I love your dialogue between the two teachers. I had a similar ah ha moment like that a few years ago. Thanks for the freebie, I am excited to use it in my classroom next year.
✰ Stacy
Simpson Superstars
Kristianne R says
I found your blog when I was looking for first grade material to teach during Summer.I have really enjoyed your site.I hope you check mine out too! momshappinessblueprint.blogspot.com
Bethany McClure says
My students LOVE the "Give the dog a bone" game! I let them play it on the SmartBoard! Thanks for the freebie!
❀Bethany❀
Learning is a Journey
Polka Dot Parlor