Number Sense

I am planning to focus on “number sense” for my ICDP goal this year. Since I have focused on this topic before for grades K-2, I am planning to expand my research and implementation to cover grades 3-4 as well. I would like to implement more “number sense” activities for students in grades 3-4 because they often do more advanced computation but don’t really understand “why” they are doing what they’re doing.

As a school, we continue to work towards improving our math scores. By increasing number sense in students in grades K-4, scores should hopefully improve not only at the elementary level but eventually in the upper grades as well. For resources, I plan to use the Math Stackers Discovery Guide as well as numerous resources from Building Math Minds. I will also be implementing activities from the # Sense 101 and # Sense 201 courses presented by Christina Tondevold.

By researching and implementing number sense activities for grades K-4, I hope to see student’s understanding of mathematical concepts increase. In turn, their increased understanding should lead to improved math scores both in the classroom and on standardized testing.

Building Basic Fact Fluency in the Elementary Classroom

Resources for Building Number Sense and Basic Fact Fluency in the Elementary Classroom

Compiled by T. Crow

The purpose of this blog is to share the resources I compiled for building number sense and basic fact fluency in my third grade classroom.  I've found that consistent, varied practice is key to helping students become familiar and adept with basic facts and number patterns.

Sites with helpful resources/links/ideas:

• Teaching Channel

• Henry County Schools Elementary Math Resources

• Achieve the Core

• Kansas Mathematics Standards

• Wisconsin Mathematics Council, Inc.

• Scholastic Inc.

• Proud to be Primary

Sites with games/activities for students to directly use via iPads/laptops:

• Math Playground

• MathGameTime

• XtraMath

• Top Marks

Helpful YouTube videos my students enjoyed and used often:

• Doubles Song

• Counting by Threes Song by Have Fun Teaching

• Counting by Threes Song by Scratch Garden

• Counting by Threes Song by Silly School Songs

• Counting by Fours Song by Have Fun Teaching

• Counting by Fours Song by Scratch Garden

• Counting by Fours Song by Silly School Songs

Please note that there are many more videos available.  Jack Hartmann, in particular, has many, many videos that you may find useful.

To gauge fact fluency progress, I administered basic fact timed tests periodically (I've found that occasional use is better than overuse, however.).  I used the following online chart creator to make line charts so my students could see their progress over time:

• Online Chart Tool

Here is a great online random number generator I use when having the kids practice doubling numbers and adding one, two, and ten to numbers:

• Random Number Generator

A great print resource to use is Mastering Addition and Subtraction by Susan O'Connell and John SanGiovanni. Click here for more information about this book and other print resources.

Math-Aids.Com has an easy-to-use random math fact worksheet generator to create worksheets for practicing fact skills such as adding doubles, doubles +1, doubles + 2, etc., as well as subtracting one, two, and three from a number. Click here to utilize this site.

If you have iPads for your students to use, here are a couple of apps to try with your students, which my students enjoyed and used often:

• Pet Bingo

• Math Slide

I hope you find these resources to be useful and effective in your classroom!