Number Sense By Tracey Nott Number sense is a key concept for students in grades K-2. In the Learning Center, we are helping students with number sense, which involves helping students understand the numbers of things in a collection. For instance, the numeral 4 represents four objects, which is greater than 3 and less than 5. The language of math is given direct and systematic instruction. This language includes ideas of greater than, less than and equal. It also includes vocabulary concepts for math operations such as words that mean the same as add include: sum, more, join, in all, plus, total, together. At home let children explore number concepts by counting the legs of a chair to find the number four or by subtracting pencils from a box. Incorporate the language of math into your daily routines, such as, We are going to need two eggs. How many will we have left? Encourage your children to help you sort items such as utensils, food, clothing. Encourage your child to compare the household things such as the sizes of shoes of family members. The progression from understanding concrete materials, pictorial representations, and abstract number representations takes lots of practice. Strategies in Math Students working on math goals By Tracey Nott S!uden!s come !o !he Learning Cen!er !or suppor! wi!h dineren! learning needs. 1his week's newsle!!er will !ocus on one s!ra!egy !ha! we are using !o help s!uden!s wi!h learning needs in ma!h. For !he las! !wo weeks we have been laying !he groundwork in using a s!ra!egy !o help wi!h addi!ion and sub!rac!ion. l!'s called TouchNath. What s TouchNath? 1ouchla!h has imaginary poin!s !ha! go on !he numerals 1-9. 1hese poin!s allow s!uden!s !o coun! !o solve !heir addi!ion and sub!rac!ion problems. Benets o! !his s!ra!egy include i! gives s!uden!s "coun!ers" !ha! will no! run ou! (unlike !ngers). 1ouchla!h is based on coun!ing. Wi!h addi!ion, !hey coun! on. Wi!h sub!rac!ion, !hey coun! backwards. /no!her bene!!, s!uden!s will always have access !o !he !ouch poin!s (unlike number lines, manipula!ives and hundred char!s). How t Works. Numerals 1-6 have a single !ouch poin!s while numerals 6-9 have double !ouch poin!s. S!uden!s quickly learned where !he !ouch poin!s were !or numerals 1-6. We have been prac!icing !he !ouch poin!s !or numerals 6-9. 1o have s!uden!s arrive a! !he righ! answer, i! is necessary !ha! !hey !ouch !he !ouch poin!s in !he correc! coun!ing pa!!ern !or each numeral. S!uden!s coun! aloud as !hey !ouch !he !ouch poin!s. 1his mul!i- sensory approach !aps in!o audi!ory, visual and !ac!ile learning s!yles. N e w s
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2 0 1 4 On October 1 from 5:00-7:00 on the playground, Reed TOWNtastic is happening! This is a wonderful opportunity for your whole family to join in community time at Reed School. Many children are very excited about "building" a piece of the town using their imagination and cardboard box. I hope to see you and your family !
Classroom-Ready Number Talks for Kindergarten, First and Second Grade Teachers: 1,000 Interactive Activities and Strategies that Teach Number Sense and Math Facts