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. 

 

How do I use Numeracy Visual Pathways

Purpose

• Provides a visual data wall for you providing appropriate timely child centred teaching
• Provides feedback and next steps parents can help with at home
• Provides current goals and next learning steps for each child
• Provides a pathway of learning (big picture) for children
• Ensures there are no gaps in learning of knowledge teaching or learning
• Aligns with Numeracy Project and National standards and testing
• Creates peer tutoring opportunities
• Creates opportunities to learn using equipment in their own way when they want to – not just math time
• Empowers children as learners
• Provides consistent language of math for children throughout school
• Creates opportunities for children to share their challenges, learning, thinking and achievements with pride

Class display

• A3 laminated pathway for knowledge only on wall in sequence
• Only display the stages your children are working at (space)
• Once you have gathered data you will know what stage they are working at for knowledge
• Put each child’s name on a math counter and blu tac it to the start of the stage they are working in creating the look of a board game.
• No children are to touch their name – only teacher decides if they can move up a block
• Children must pass through each step and never jump steps without providing evidence of their learning.

Daily

• Children work on their knowledge goal independently, with peers, using equipment every day while you are working intensive teaching strategy with group.
• Children are introduced to different ways to use equipment to achieve their goal through inquiry so it is child owned and child centered learning.

Routine may look like:

• Warm up – you tube song about counting back
• Pose a question – How can I learn to write numbers correctly, How can I get better at adding? What is a number line? What equipment will help me learn to skip count backwards?
• Children investigate, discuss, share, as teacher collects information from children and records on large paper poster for class. (list, mindmap) This can be reflected on later in the week with which is the best equipment for this job? What was the quickest strategy for this problem?
• Ask children what is your goal and send away to the number space. Children then work on math goals independently confident that they are focused. Intensive strategy teaching is done with groups
• Children share with you three ways they achieved a goal then you decide if they go up to next goal. This is important to do regularly otherwise they will lose interest. You need to value their work as much as you want them to.
• Sharing time at end of math session Teacher scaffolds by questioning.
• What was the tricky part?
• What equipment helped you today?
• Did someone else help you with your thinking?
• What will your next goal be?
• Can you think of another way to learn this or show your thinking?

How do I keep them thinking in the math space?

Challenge Board 
Pose a problem for all to solve.
Displays the variety of answers and encourages discussion using language of - justifying, reasoning, explaining, confirming or challenging ideas, thinking and understanding.

Equivalent Fractions

Inspirational way to think about fractions that is visual but requires thinking. Meets the needs of nearly all kids. Check out the site to see the whole story.

Reflection Strategy

Reflection of things I found out! Check out this website to see how to complete this fun way to reflect on your thinking about using math.

Math Language Display

Developing the language for maths assists in making links and connections. Children developing their own personal math vocab wall over time not only supports their language and understanding but also that of others in the room. This could also be done online in a click and listen to a child explaining their meaning of a word.

Endless possibilities with this concept.

Display board could be on place value. How to learn your times tables, the link between division and multiplication, strategies you could use to solve a problem.

Demonstrating the thinking!

 Kids demonstrating their thinking supports so much learning

Pride in their presentation of their thinking
clarifies their thinking
demonstrates different models for solving a problem
Inspires others
Opens doors for peer tutoring within the class

The best way I have found this to work is using edu-creations app on the ipad and making a movie using their voice as well as their drawings to show their thinking. Very powerful for parents to see steps to achieve the end result. Post it on your blog creating a wider audience. Inspires students to help other students across the world in learning math.

Top Ten Fraction Books

 Linking literacy to math is so valuable. Provides avenues for discussion about how we gain new information from books. This website provides the top 10 books for assisting in teaching fractions.

Stinky Feet Game

I have so many ideas about how I could use this game, and not only for students but also adults and team building. There's nothing quite like a bit of fun competition to get the brain working. Really nice way to end the game with positive and negative point system.

Dance the math away!!

Great for those energetic learners. Awesome learning about place value and problem solving FAST!
The rules for the dance are at the original site. Click on picture to find out.

Flying number knowledge

Sorry unable to find original source. However this was shared on pinterest for you to check out.
Number Bonds
Times Tables
Flying Factors

Bright colourful and great for demonstrating learning.

How can I teach math with lego?

Lego has so many uses. This site explores ways to use lego for learning maths in heaps of ways for older children.

Numeracy Symposium Slideshow

Numeracy symposium - 4D Learning - 2014 from Laetitia de Vries

Math catchers

 Math catcher. For those kids who love art, sharing, peer teaching, investigating, and being active in their learning this could work!

For more information and instructions click on the image to take you to original site.

times table arrays

Think boards for times tables would be fun if they were done with this idea. Click on picture to see more information.

Maths Board Game

This resource has been developed by using Numeracy I Can sheets, I am learning to profiles pages and Numeracy 123 resources. It has been the most successful way to engage self directed learning in building knowledge in numbers. Strategy must always be taught to support and scaffold new learning. Practise can be encouraged by making lessons for a wider audience on the ipad using educreations and putting on your blog or buddy teaching in class.

Display each knowledge stage on the wall.
Give each student a counter with their name on it.
Place on the number knowledge stage they are working with blue tack

Children are taught using the inquiry process how to use mathematical equipment for learning.
They come up with many more ideas than we would.

Display this learning as success criteria for active learning

Students must show teacher in three different ways that they know the goal on the board. Only teachers can move them forward once this has been achieved.
Remember to keep the motivation going. Don't destroy their confidence by saying no all the time. Show them a different way to learn their goal.

Children have a sharing time to celebrate their achievements challenges and persistence for working towards their own goal in maths. This also inspires new learning by the audience.

Resource can be accessed here:
Stage 1 Knowledge 

Stage 3 Knowledge 

Stage 4 Knowledge 

Stage 5 Knowledge

Dominoes!

How many ways can you use dominoes for learning maths?



Create a thinkboard with a domino in the centre!

Bagged addition

Click image to visit site

I've used this without the water and works just as well. It's great as a teaching tool or small group activity. didn't inspire my kids to do much with it otherwise unless recording their equations as a competition. I guess I had a competitive bunch that year.

Paper Plate Fractions

Fractions can be so much fun when you are creating art at the same time. Imagine doing some modrian art on these.

Game On

This is a great social way to get children engaging competitively in learning basic facts, bonds to ten or......

Thanks for the awesome idea Activity Mom Blogger! Click on the picture to check out more ideas