5/31/13

Rekenrek

Hu?  Yet another math tool for your Kindergarten and first grade classrooms to practice basic understanding of numbers and addition/subtraction with out the algorithm? Yes!  Look at the pictures first:

Some say..is that an abacus?  Actually, it is the same idea just a much smaller scale.  This tool is can be used as a whole group lessons, calendar time, interactive carpet time, and center renforcements.  We created them at our school w/ card stock, a hole punch, pipe cleaners, and two different colored pony beads.  Great parent volunteer activity.

The best example I've seen of the use of this tool is for the teacher to have one and all students to have one.  Teacher asks "How can I make 4?".  All students use their own think time and build "4" on their rekenrek.  A student may have slide over four beads on the top OR bottom but they might have also slid over 3 on top and 1 on bottom OR two on top and two on bottom OR one on top and three on bottom.  This leads to the conversation on how to decompose the number '4'.

For a DEEP explanation of how Rekenreks came around and more activities please visit the K-5 Math Teaching Resources.

Want to see something cool! Look:

A fellow coach of mine made a big one!  This is my version on her genius work (that is also my adorable daughter playing with our kitten!)  This will be great for demonstrations for whole group but also for centers time.  From across the room, the teacher can see what the students are doing in that center.  I also added the dimensions incase you wanted to make one yourself.  All you need is a 10' pole, the joints listed above, a PVC cutter (totally worth having one on hand), and two different colored pool noodles.  Cut, stick together, and go!  We chose not to glue the pieces together because over time the pool noodles may need to be replaced.  You can make that choice.  Please, let me know how it goes if you dive in to Rekenreks!  

Lastly, for more classroom examples and deeper understanding on the Rekenrek.  I suggest getting your hands on the teacher book Number Talks.  It comes with a DVD that shows a classroom at work with the Rekenrek.  



Ten Frames/Subitizing

One of my biggest faults is having to much enthusiasm.  You might think: not possible!  But really, it scares people.  Right now I am very big on Ten Frames and Subitizing.  Nerdy but totally awesome.

We are working on using Ten (and Five) Frames and Subitizing (or dot plates) which is the concept of students being able to visually see numbers and in turn do basic math.  Subitizing is defied as 'to perceive at a glance the number of items presented. The hardest part of these two subjects is realizing that the students take the lead.  Students need talk through their metacogition of the subject and discuss with each other what they see, the conclusions they draw, and be allowed to create arguments and reasons about their answers..
Ten Frames

Ten Frame Resources:
Black Line Masters of different types/sizes of Ten Frames (scroll down)
Morning Meeting/Calendar idea on how to use Ten Frames
Online movie on how to use Ten Frames to teach math facts for 10
Whole group explanation how to use ten frames and games
Online Manipulative Game for Ten Frames
More lessons and games for Ten Frames
A Teachers's Experience and how to use Ten Frames as a War Game

All Basic Subitizing Combos

Subitizing Resources:
A Teacher's Experience and how she used Dot Cards w/ a download of cards
A Teacher's Experience on how to use Bingo Dobers for student's to create
Partner game to Practice Subitizing
More Subitizing games and resources

In all honesty, the introduction of these two topics during calendar time or at the beginning of your math time takes a total of 1 minute, tops.  You can do a lot w/ them as your concepts grow with number recognition, adding, and subtracting.  My favorite part is it leads to student conversations which is at the Analysis level w/ out prep from you.  I look forward to revisiting this post w/ pictures of what my teachers are doing w/ this!