How do I teach children to use numeracy equipment?

To support children in learning their own number knowledge goals we have to empower them with the skills to use equipment. 

Throughout the inquiry process students will…

• -       ask more questions
• -       make conjectures
• -       plan and monitor their activity
• -       develop collaboration skills
• -       Identify when they need knowledge
• -       Ask the teacher for instruction
• -       Explain their reasoning
• -       Prove their results

Do it Daily

Pose the question….

How many ways can we make 10?

What is 10?

How can a number line help my learning?

How can a tens frame help my learning?

How can lego help my math thinking?

Record their ideas

Put their name to it so you can see who is sharing.  Give them ownership of their idea

Give them the equipment

Let them work on their own with a buddy or small group to explore opportunities for learning. Observe, listen and record what you hear. Math language, thinking, discourse, identify their next steps for scaffolding.

Regroup and discuss

Scaffold thinking to explore new ways of using equipment. Invite questions. Challenge them with another question.

Record new ideas

On the same page and first ideas. Display on class wall for referring back to.

Now they are ready to teach themselves their own math goals in number knowledge

This is a powerful way to not only scaffold children into using equipment but the children come up with such diverse ways I would never have thought of. 

I display these on the wall as a reference point for later teaching. It also informs parents of how children are learning especially if they come in as parent help. 

Children are never old enough for these skills to be developed. Showing your thinking in different ways is vital in all mathematical workings.