My students need these 6 sets of counters and ten frame manipulatives to help them explore and internalize the foundation of number sense using concrete, hands-on experiences.
Young children need to gain a sense of what numbers REALLY mean by starting at a concrete level. They need hands-on objects to manipulate and explore in order to gain a strong foundation of number sense before moving to the abstract representation of numbers. First graders need to "touch" numbers.
The students in my class are eager learners who love to "turn up their brains" and discover connections in all areas of academics.
Almost 75% of the student population at our school come from low income households and whose parents work hard to support a family. The students may be disadvantaged economically, but they are happy to come to school and learn. They like to have fun while learning and love to discover new things. They are like little sponges, soaking up information!
My Project
Research shows that young mathematicians need to begin with hands-on ways to internalize math concepts in order to gain full understanding of what numbers really mean. Using these colored counters, ten frames and double ten-frames will help my students organize and internalize numbers so that eventually they can transfer the concept to abstract numbers. Leading my students through lessons, activities and games using ten-frames is a research-based way to help them gain a strong number sense foundation. There are many different lessons that I can can use to teach my students to use the ten-frames as a model for adding and subtracting. Using ten-frames as a model will help them visualize more efficient ways to add and subtract. With time and practice, my students will then be able to use mental math for abstract numbers. The use of ten-frames is essential to our common core math curriculum. You can find a variety of uses for these magnetic ten-frames when you search lessons on-line.
Is math hard for you?
I have seen too many students struggle with math and feel that the use of the magnetic ten-frames and counters will engage them in manipulating numbers and help them truly internalize what numbers mean. For young children, concrete number sense is as essential to mathematics as phonics is in learning how to read. The students in my class already struggle in other areas of life; please help take math off the list of struggles by providing this resource to our classroom.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Batten and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
