Math Tools

In math we are using the tools pictured below: a number line, a number string, and a number rack.  As you can see, these math tools visually show sets of 5 by contrasting red and white colors.  These tools help the children reach a goal of 2nd grade math, becoming fluent at calculating addition and subtraction problems.  The visual representation helps the children break numbers into smaller numbers (decompose numbers), an important strategy that helps children with calculating.

Here is how a child might make the number 8 on the number rack.  Instead of counting each bead, he/she knows that he/she can push 5 red beads on top to the left and then 3 more beads on the bottom to make 8.

Then if he/she is figuring out 8 +5, he/she can push over 5 more beads.  Now there are 10 beads on top and 3 on bottom, so he/she can quickly see that there are 10+3 beads which equals 13.

Here is how the same problem, 8+5, might be calculated with the number string.  We encourage the children to push over the 8 beads with one push, seeing the 5 red and then adding on 3 more (instead of counting each bead individually).

To add 5 more, those beads are pushed over. Then it is easier to see that you can take the 2 white beads from those 5, add them to the 8 beads to make 10.  Then 10+3=13.