Making Number Sense Make Sense: A Math Podcast for Early Elementary Teachers

Which One Doesn’t Belong Blog Post

Quick Images Blog Post

Choral Counting Blog Post

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Ep 54: Setting Up A Math Block With No Curriculum

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:10:13 GMT

So you want to set up your math time to maximize success, but you don't have a curriculum. In this episode, we discuss components you can add to your math block that will last you all year!

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Helpful Links

Get a FREE Math Task

Decomposing Numbers Lessons

Setting Up A Thinking Classroom

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Decomposing Numbers Lessons

Ep 53: The First Week of Math in Early Elementary: Setting Up Your Math Workshop for Success

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 09:01:14 GMT

In this episode, we'll talk about how to set up your math class for success starting from the first week!

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Helpful Links

Blog Post

Setting Up A Thinking Classroom

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Free Games and Practice Pages

Ep 52: 5 Games to Maximize Your Child’s Number Sense and Math Skills in 5 Minutes or Less!

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 09:01:30 GMT

Parents and teachers! Are you looking for ideas to help with math at home?

Sometimes all it takes is 5 minutes daily to have a huge impact on your child’s learning and math skills!

These 5 games require no materials only your time with your child and your helping your kids with math in the process!

You can get these game ideas and more in this Math Game Activity Book!

This post contains affiliate links

Helpful Links

Math Games Activity Book

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Ep 51: 5 Minute Math Games For Parents to Prevent the Summer Slide for Kindergarten and First Grade!

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:00:34 GMT

The summer slide is real! If you are a parent, caregiver, or teacher looking for games to play or suggest to your families, this episode is for you! This episode contains 7+ game ideas to help your little ones with math over the summer! No worksheets are required!

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Helpful Links

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Ep 50: 4 Easy At-Home Ideas to Help Your Child With Number Writing

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:00:34 GMT

In today’s episode, we’re diving into simple, hands-on ways to help your child practice writing numbers — without the boredom or frustration! Whether you're a parent, teacher, or caregiver, these playful activities will keep young learners engaged while building fine motor skills and number sense.

First up, we talk about Water Painting, the perfect activity for hot summer days. Grab a paintbrush and a cup of water, and let your child “paint” numbers on the sidewalk or wall. It’s fun, mess-free, and dries away on its own!

Next, we explore Sand Writing, a tactile favorite that helps kids form numbers while engaging their senses. It’s a great way to build memory and fine motor skills — plus, kids love the feel of sand between their fingers.

For a neater option, try Gel Writing. With just a plastic bag, dollar store gel, and a little food coloring, you can create a squishy, mess-free writing surface. It’s sensory-friendly and so much fun — just remember to double-bag to avoid spills!

And if you’re looking for a grab-and-go option, check out the Number Writing Workbook, designed for Kindergarten and rising First Grade students. Inside you’ll find simple tracing pages with visual guides, fun number mazes, and activities that combine tracing, coloring, and number recognition.

Tune in to hear how small changes in materials can turn ordinary number practice into an exciting, multisensory experience your child will love!

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Free Games and Practice Pages

Number Writing Workbook

Sand

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Ep 49: Beads as Math Tools

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 10:00:39 GMT

In this episode, we explore how simple materials—like beads—can transform your math centers. Beads aren’t just colorful and fun; they’re powerful tools for counting collections, building fine motor skills, and creating patterns. We’ll dive into hands-on activities like Spin and Thread, DIY number racks, and engaging rekenrek games that help students strengthen their number sense and counting strategies. Whether you’re looking for easy prep ideas or creative ways to switch up your manipulatives, this episode is packed with practical tips you can use tomorrow. Tune in and bring new life to your math lessons!

Helpful Links:

Blog Post

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Ep 48: 3 Unexpected Ways to Increase Engagement In Math

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 10:00:58 GMT

In this quick episode, we are diving into 3 unconventional ways to increase engagement in math class!

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Helpful Links

Spin and Thread

Graphing Project

Addition and Subtraction Lessons

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Ep 47: Increasing Buy-In From Your Team to Start Building Thinking Classrooms

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 10:00:59 GMT

Today's episode comes from a listener email about getting buy-in from other teachers to give BTC a try!

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Helpful Links

K Task Bundle

Let's Connect!

Email me! lara@makingnumbersensemakesense.com

Ep 46: Consolidation and Reflection For K-2 after Math Tasks and Problem Solving Sessions

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 10:00:34 GMT

Transforming your classroom into a Building Thinking Classroom is an exciting journey—but when it comes to consolidating learning and reflecting on problem-solving tasks, it can feel tricky with younger students. Between stamina struggles, time constraints, and building those metacognitive skills, what’s a teacher to do?

In this episode, we’re tackling those challenges with fun and effective strategies to wrap up your thinking tasks:

🌶️ Check Your Understanding Questions Use “mild,” “medium,” and “spicy” extension questions to give students a choice and push their thinking a little further.

🎲 Games for Consolidation Turn reflection time into play with quick, themed games that tie into your tasks and can double as math centers later!

📝 Meaningful Notes Help students record their learning in creative ways—like fill-in-the-blanks, circling items, or drawing—so they can revisit important strategies and takeaways later.

💡 The 4-Quadrant Method Break down strategies and reflections into bite-sized pieces for young learners to understand and remember.

Whether it’s through playful games, choice-driven questions, or creative note-taking, these approaches will keep your students engaged and make math reflection meaningful and manageable.

Links & Resources:

👉 Blog Post

👉 Grab Kindergarten, 1st Grade, or 2nd Grade Thinking Task Bundles here!

Let's Connect!

Let’s make consolidation time just as exciting as problem-solving! 🎉

Ep 45: Using AI to Help You Design Math Tasks!

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 10:00:47 GMT

In this episode, we dive into how AI tools like ChatGPT can support teachers in crafting creative and engaging math tasks for Kindergarten, 1st-grade, and 2nd-grade students. While AI can’t replace the human magic you bring to your classroom, it can be a great brainstorming partner to help spark ideas, refine tasks, and create meaningful learning experiences.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

The Power of Specific Prompts
- A generic prompt like “Give me math tasks for counting” might not get the best results. Instead, provide details like grade level, standards, goals, and even a story context.
- Specificity helps AI provide deeper, more tailored responses.
Ask for Variations
- Encourage creativity by requesting multiple examples or exploring specific parts of a task.
- Need thin-slicing? AI can help you design tasks with increasing levels of difficulty, ensuring they meet your learning objectives.
Engagement Matters
- Beyond math concepts, you can ask AI for fun and creative ideas, like coming up with 10 names for a fictional business that include puns or alliteration to match your theme.
- Adding a playful twist makes tasks more enjoyable for students!
Check the Work
- While AI can do a lot, it’s not perfect. Always double-check tasks for accuracy, especially as the math becomes more advanced or nuanced.
- Use AI as a starting point but refine the details yourself to ensure they’re just right for your students.

💡 Final Thoughts: AI isn’t magic—it’s a tool. It won’t create slides, choose the perfect context, or capture your students’ unique needs. What turns an idea into a task your students love is you. Your creativity, expertise, and connection to your class are what make learning truly come alive.

📚 Looking for Pre-Made Thinking Tasks? Check out our Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade bundles for ready-to-use ideas tailored to Building Thinking Classrooms!

✨ Join the Conversation: Have you used AI to create math tasks? Share your experiences and tips with us on Instagram or lara@makingnumbersensemakesense.com

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Ep 44: 2nd Grade Tasks for Building a Thinking Classroom!

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 10:00:32 GMT

Looking for ways to make 2nd-grade math engaging and fun? In this episode, we’re sharing creative, story-based tasks that get your students excited about skip counting, place value, addition, subtraction, and more—all while building critical math skills!

Here’s what we’re covering:

🍊 Skip Counting at the Orange You Sweet Orange Factory—help your students count baskets of oranges in multiples of 5, 10, or 100.

👾 Place Value Party Planning with the Aliens of Countaria—can your students decode the alien languages and save the “Outta This World” Block Party?

🏴‍☠️ Treasure Hunt Adventures with Pirate Captain Redbeard—solve length problems to navigate the treasure map and uncover hidden treasures!

🍫 Brownie Partitioning at the Brownie Bakery—partition rectangles into rows and columns to figure out brownie orders.

📏 Measuring with the Cube Queen and Popsicle Stick King—compare measurements and decide when to use larger or smaller tools.

🍦 Dreaming of Ice Cream with Whirl’d of Swirls—build rectangular arrays to keep up with growing ice cream orders.

Links & Resources: 👉 Grab the full task bundle here! 👉 Check out the blog post here!

Tune in and let’s make math an adventure! 🎉

Let's Connect!

🔺Composing Shapes with pattern blocks

Ep 43: 1st Grade Tasks for Building a Thinking Classroom!

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 10:00:24 GMT

Today, we’re diving into something that every early elementary teacher has faced: coming up with the perfect math task—especially for those curious First Graders. Sometimes, it feels like the hardest part, right?

Well, no worries, because we’ve got some exciting, hands-on ideas to spark engagement and build math confidence in your students! We’ll talk about:

Blog Post

📖 Story-Based Problems that bring math to life with fun narratives.

🔢 FREE 100 Chart Mysteries where your students will outsmart the 100 Chart Thief.

🍕 Pizza Fractions at the Dough-licious Pizzeria.

📏 Nonstandard Measurement Adventures with the Cube Queen and Popsicle Stick King.

🎡 Data and Graphing at the Laugh-A-Lot Carnival.

🎲Skip Counting by 5 with dice

⭐Save ⏱️ and 💸 on the 1st Grade Task Bundle!⭐

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Ep 42: Kindergarten Building Thinking Classrooms Math Tasks

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:00:53 GMT

Sometimes coming up with a task for Kindergarten is the hardest part! In this episode, I share 7 tasks perfect for your kindergarten classroom in a building-thinking classrooms style! Dive into the world of playful, hands-on math tasks in this episode of Making Number Sense Make Sense! From counting and number writing with the mischievous dogs at Paw-some Pups Playhouse to solving addition problems with a broken cash register in "Cash Out," we’ll explore creative ways to engage young learners. Plus, hear how sorting toys, composing shapes, and comparing lengths bring math concepts to life through fun, story-driven activities. Whether you're teaching counting to 20, addition within 10 or 20, or tackling shape challenges, these tasks will have your students excited to learn and eager for more!

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Helpful Links

Kindergarten Task Bundle Blog

Counting and Number Writing Task

Cash Out Addition Within 10

Sorting Task

Composing Shapes Task

Comparing Longer and Shorter Task

Let's Connect!

Ep 41: How to Plan a Building Thinking Classroom Style Math Task

Mon, 27 May 2024 09:00:44 GMT

The hardest part about Building Thinking Classrooms is finding the tasks when you want to spice it up a bit! In this episode, I'm walking you through how I approach coming up with ideas for tasks! Want the task I talked about? You can get the 2nd Grade Cash Out Task here! K and 1st Grade versions are below.

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Helpful Links

BTC Free Task

BTC Starter Pack

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Ep 40: Closing Circle For A Strong Math Community!

Mon, 20 May 2024 09:00:48 GMT

Since you seemed to enjoy Math Games for Morning Meeting, this is a companion episode, not a math specific episode but helpful to create a respectful community so that all our academic work and be more successful! I'm going over packing up routines, closing circle routines, and how kids leave the classroom during dismissal.

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Helpful Links

Let's Connect!

Ep 39: Introducing the Addition and Subtraction Symbols

Mon, 13 May 2024 09:00:47 GMT

Truth. Kids don't need addition and subtraction symbols to do addition and subtraction symbols. But when they do, give them a little…spice.

Today we’re talking about how to give those squiggles meaning!

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Helpful Links

Addition and Subtraction Lessons

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Ep 38: Quick and Easy Subtraction Games up to 12

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 09:00:38 GMT

Subtraction games can be tricker than addition because we don’t want students working with negative numbers in Kindergarten or First grade! This episode shares 5 print-and-play math games you can use in your classroom tomorrow!

Your students will practice math facts, writing equations, working independently and with partners, freeing you to circulate or work with small groups!

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Timestamps

1:06 - Spin and Subtract

2:15 - Spin, Roll, and Color

3:14 - Build, Roll, and Break

4:00 - Spin, Roll, and Remove

4:32 - Jump Around

Helpful Links

Addition and Subtraction Games Bundle

Get the Games!

Let's Connect!

Ep 37: Print-and-Play Addition Games for Numbers to 12

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 09:00:27 GMT

I love a good game to have kids learning and practicing math! The applause my students give when in math center time is music to my ears!

These addition games are pretty simple and don't include a lot of varied directions, perfect to free you up to circulate the room if you need to or pull students one one-on-one or in a small group because they're engaged in these fast-paced games that are accessible to them and easy to differentiate.

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Timestamps

1:14 - Spin and Add

1:46 - Roll A Two-Color Tower

2:57 - Ladybug Addition

3:41 - Add Them Up

4:46 - Sevens

Helpful Links

Addition and Subtraction Games Bundle

Get the Games!

Let's Connect!

Ep 36: 6 Tips to Help Struggling Mathematicians

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 09:00:37 GMT

Sometimes you have the perfect lesson and crickets. Or… most of your students get it, but there are a handful who don’t. What do you do for them?

In this episode, I’m sharing tips to help your struggling mathematicians!

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Helpful Links

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Ep 35: Things I Learned From My Kindergarten Students About Life

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 09:01:17 GMT

As teachers, it's our job to be the ones doing the “teaching” but there is a lot we can learn from our students too! Far beyond the most recent slang or trending dance on social media!

Today I shared 4 things my students remind me of all the time!

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Dice Game Sampler Freebie

Ep 34: 4 Easy Ways to Differentiate Your Math Centers

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 09:00:41 GMT

We know that differentiation is good for kids…but who has the time? These differentiation methods are quick and easy to implement in the classroom! You can see all of these ideas and differentiated centers on the blog!

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Helpful Links

Pick Build and Cover 10 Frames

Number Rack, Rekenrek Differentiated Centers

Pattern Block Roll, Count, and Cover

Let's Connect!

Ep 33: Array Math Centers and Multiplication Task

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 09:01:38 GMT

In this episode, I share some hands-on array math centers and a Building Thinking Classrooms Math Task involving arrays and unknown factors!

Big kids love centers too!

Get a free repeated addition task! Escaping Ants!

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Helpful Links

Pick and Build Arrays

Spin, Multipliy and Find the Array

Empty The Board Multiplication

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Ep 32: 10+ Ten Frame Activities

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 09:00:37 GMT

Do your 10 Frame centers need a refresh? In this episode, I share 10 plus warm-ups, math stations, and print-and-go activities involving 10 frames! If you want to know more about the benefits of 10 frames you can check out episode 30, All About 10 Frames!

Helpful Links

All the Activities

Ep 31: All About 10 Frames

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 09:01:07 GMT

This week we are talking all about 10 frames! Ten frames are a math tool that can help students develop anchors to 5 and 10 which are important pre-place value skills! I levels of the concept of 10, and 5 frame, 10 frame, and 20 or double ten frame activities you can use in your classroom today!

Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form!

Helpful Links

Quick Images 5, 10, 20 Frames

Get All the Activities

Pick, Build, Cover

Roll and Write 10 Frames

Time Stamps

0:37 What is a 10 Frame?

1:52 Levels of Concept of 10

4:03 Activities with 10 Frames

Let's Connect!

Choral Counting Blog Post

Ep 30: 5 Math Games for Morning Meeting or Circle Time

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 10:20:19 GMT

Morning meeting is a great way to connect with your students and build a classroom community. There are times when you just play to play, but if you want to sneak in some math in the morning meeting, I have versatile 5 games for you to do just that!

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Time Stamps

1:00 In-and-Out Dance-A-Thon

2:33 What Number Am I Writing

3:52 Team Building

5:52 Catch My Pattern

6:47 What’s My Number

Helpful Links

Let's Connect!

Ep 29: Worked Examples in the Elementary Math Classroom

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 10:10:23 GMT

Do you find your students are making the same mistakes over and over again? Using a worked-out example is a great way to have your students discuss different problem-solving strategies and techniques and helps them apply what they have learned to new problems! Learn about different worked examples and the impact they can have!

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Time Stamps

1:50 Fading Examples

2:44 Prompting Self Explanation

5:05 Comparing Examples

7:22 Which Type Do I Use

8:30 Conclusions

Helpful Links

Let's Connect!

Ep: 28 Math Activities for the 100th Day of School

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 10:00:42 GMT

Are you looking for some math ideas for the 100th day of school? In this episode, I break down my favorite STEAM activities for the 100th day that your students will love! Every year, I get multiple student requests to keep the “centers” for math workshop because they enjoyed it so much!

Whether you take one idea or the whole bundle, these ideas are sure to be a hit with your students!

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Ep 27: The 100’s Chart Games, Centers, and Missing Number Activities

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 10:00:40 GMT

Do you have a 100’s chart collecting dust up on your wall? I did too but it was a mistake! The 100s chart is a great tool for developing number sense! In this episode, I get into games you can play with the 100s chart, problem-solving tasks, hands-on math center, no prep math centers, and more all with the 100 and 120 charts!

Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form!

Timestamps

My history with the 100’s Chart

2:40 100’s Chart Morning Meeting and Group Games

5:43 Problem Solving With the 100 Chart

6:28 100 Chart Centers and Activities

8:08 Bonus!

Helpful Links

Blog Post

YouTube Video

100 Chart Thief Freebie

Choral Counting Podcast Episode

100 Chart Spin and Fill

100 Chart Puzzle Worksheets

100 Chart Fill in the Chart Worksheets

Let's Connect!

4:05 Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics Pre-K-2/ Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics 3-5

Ep: 26 Book Recommendations to Learn How Kids Learn Math

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 10:30:18 GMT

If you are looking for some recommendations of places to look to increase your knowledge of math pedagogy, center ideas, and more this episode is for you! I share with you how I first got my hands on a professional development book that I actually used and some others if you are looking to take your math knowledge to the next level.

Math can be a subject a lot of people don't feel comfortable teaching or learning and these books can give you the background and confidence to continue your journey as an amazing math teacher!

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Helpful Links/Time Stamps

5:15 Math Recovery Series

7:15 Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain

8:00 Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics

9:10 Juli Dixon

Culturally Responsive Teaching and Building Thinking Classrooms Crossover Episode

Let's Connect!

4 Non-Curricular Tasks Starter Pack

Ep 25: Getting Students to Engage in Math Class

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 10:00:31 GMT

We all have off days, but sometimes your students are just not participating the way you would like in math and problem-solving. In this episode, I am sharing some tips you can try to help boost participation in your classroom!

Time Stamps

0:56 Non-Curricular Tasks

2:25 When in doubt, theme it out!

2:55 Ask questions

3:50 Give them a Job

6:00 Mistakes Help Our Brains Grow

Helpful Links

Gingerbread Man Task

Halloween Task

Blog Post

YouTube Video

NRICH.org Task My mistake task!

Please fill out the Google Form if you have episodes you’d like to hear from me!

Let's Connect!

Fall-Hamilton Elementary: Transitioning to Trauma-Informed Practices to Support Learning.

Ep 24: Mindfulness in Math Class

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 12:00:29 GMT

If your students aren't available for learning, it doesn't matter how perfect your lesson is. In today's episode, I’m talking about Trauma Informed Practice and implementing mindfulness in the classroom. I’m giving you practical tips, examples, and a peek into the importance of a trauma-informed classroom.

Thank you to all of you who attended my Making Math Moment Talk I had a blast!

This will be the last episode of 2023, fill out the Google Form if you have episodes you’d like to hear from me! I’ll catch you in 2024!

Time Stamps

1:00 My start with Trauma Informed Practice

3:40 Creating a Trauma-Informed Classroom (Infographic)

5:00 Social Emotional Learning, Mindfulness, Zones of Regulation

8:00 Implementing Mindfulness

10:00 Examples of Mindfulness Activities/ Breathing Techniques

13:58 Calm Down Corner/Peace Corner/ Relaxation Station

Helpful Links

Mindfulness Cards

Videos

The Mindful Teacher YouTube

Snoop Dogg Affirmations

Let's Connect!

Ep 23: Making Math Moments Virtual Summit Top Picks!

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 12:00:34 GMT

Get my complete counting stages presentation slides!

In this episode, I am giving you a sneak peek into the sessions I have my eye on in the Making Math Moments Virtual Summit. I’m looking at sessions on

✅Closing a Building Thinking Classrooms Math Lesson

✅Culturally Responsive Math Education

✅Math Play

✅ Children's books for math problems

✅Coding!

There are so many amazing sessions, register to get in on this amazing opportunity!

Any podcast episodes you want me to make?

Let me know in this Google Form!

Helpful Links

Let's Connect!

Ep 22: Facile Number Sequence the Final Counting Series Episode Part 6

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 11:01:29 GMT

Get my complete counting stages presentation slides!

In this week's episode, we’ll look into the last counting stage Facile Number Sequence. In this stage, of counting, we will really see students who are flexible in the way they solve problems!They can use a variety of non-count by ones strategies and we’ll go into what they are!

Any podcast episodes you want me to make? Let me know in this Google Form!

Helpful Links

Let's Connect!

Ep 21: Intermediate Number Sequence Stages of Counting Series Part 5

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 11:01:46 GMT

Get my complete counting stages presentation slides!

In this week's episode, we’ll look into the next counting stage Intermediate Number Sequence. In this stage, of counting, we will really start to see all of our hard work come together as students become more confident and successful problem solvers, specifically with subtraction!

Any podcast episodes you want me to make? Let me know in this Google Form!

Helpful Links

Blog Post

Let's Connect!

Fill in the Missing Number Center

Ep 20: Initial Number Sequence: Stages of Counting Series Part 4

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 11:00:38 GMT

Get my complete counting stages presentation slides!

In this week's episode, we’ll look into the next counting stage Initial Number Sequence. In this stage, of counting, we will really start to see all of our hard work come together as students become more confident and successful problem solvers.

We’ll Talk About…

✅Addtion strategies to look for

✅Other indicators of this stage

✅Centers to Support getting students to the next stage

✅The Making Math Moments Virtual Summit!

Any podcast episodes you want me to make?

Let me know in this Google Form!

Helpful Links

Blog Post

Fill in the Missing Number No Prep Worksheets

How Many Candies? Counting On Center

Let's Connect!

Ep 19: Figurative Counters: Stages of Counting Series Part 3

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 11:01:33 GMT

Get my complete counting stages presentation slides!

Any podcast episodes you want me to make? Let me know in this Google Form!

Today's focus is Figurative Counters. I’ll go over what a figureative counter is, what to look for, and give you some ideas of math centers and activities you can do to support students in this level of counting.

Helpful Links

Counting On Games Bundle

Let's Connect!

Ep 18: Perceptual Counters: Stages of Counting Series Part 2

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 11:00:37 GMT

Get my complete counting stages presentation slides!

In this week's episode, we are continuing our deep dive into learning trajectories for counting and how to teach counting and develop counting skills for young students. Counting is an area where students need a lot of practice to really develop their number sense and ability to count accurately.Today's focus is Perceptual counters. I’ll go over what a perceptual counter is, what to look for, and give you some ideas of math centers and activities you can do to support students in this level of counting. ➡️Free Rekenrek Activites

Pick and Build 10 Frames

Pick and Build Rekenreks

Spin and Slide Rekenreks

Roll, Count, and Cover

Teen Number Bundle

Any podcast episodes you want me to make?

Let me know in this Google Form!

Helpful Links

Blog Post

Let's Connect!

Emergent Counters Blog Post

Ep: 17 Emergent Counters: Stages of Counters Series Part 1

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 11:01:30 GMT

Get my complete counting stages presentation slides!

Do you have students who are having trouble counting? This series will explore the stages of counting, how to identify the stages of your students, and what to do to support them through this stage and into the next one!

Helpful Links

One to One Correspondence Blog Post

Emergent Counters Bundle

Let's Connect!

Ep 16: Building Culturally Responsive Thinking Classroom: BTC Meets Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 11:00:36 GMT

While getting a refresher on Culturally Responsive Education, I realized how much the strategies in Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain match up with Building Thinking Classrooms, but Culturally Responsive Teaching was written at least 5 years before BTC.

Math is often a subject that is not known to be “Culturally Responsive.” Then why does BTC seem to work so well? In this episode, I outline the similarities and encourage you to try it in your classrooms through the lens of Culturally Responsive Education.

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Helpful Links

BTC Free Task

BTC Starter Pack

Let's Connect!

Ep 15: Choral Counting: Number Sense Routines Series

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 11:30:09 GMT

Rounding out our number sense routine series is Choral Counting. This routine is great for focusing on specific number sequences that may be tricky for your students!I talk about what a choral count is, how to do a choral count, different ways to record your counts, and some ideas for varying your counts to support different areas of our number system.

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Helpful Links

Let's Connect! Instagram Website YouTube Channel

Ep 14: 8+ Rote Counting Ideas: Number Sense Routines Series

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 11:30:17 GMT

One of my least favorite standards to work on is counting to 100. 🧮 It takes a long time and it's abstract and the students who need to practice the most often don’t when we count together. So how do we get students to practice counting when they don’t want to? In this week’s episode, I give 8 ideas for rote counting, counting backward, and skip counting!

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Helpful Links

Rote Counting Blog

Rote Counting Video

Skip Counting Tasks

Get the Number Sense Routines Bundle!

Let's Connect!

Ep 13: Quick Images: Number Sense Routines Series

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 11:00:12 GMT

Continuing with our number sense routines series, is a tried and true routine students will love!I talk about what Quick Images is, how to implement it, and 4 ideas to extend this fast-paced number sense routine!

This routine is great for practicing

✅subitizing

✅one to one correspondence

✅number sense

✅academic conversations & more!

Helpful Links

Quick Images Blog

Quick Images Video

⭐ Quick Images Freebie ⭐

Quick Images Mega Bundle

Get the full Number Sense Routines Bundle!

Let's Connect! Instagram

Which One Doesn’t Belong Slides

Ep 12: Which One Doesn’t Belong: Number Sense Routines Series

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 11:30:17 GMT

This episode starts a series on the Podcast about Number Sense Routine you can implement in your classroom today! If you’ve seen Sesame Street, you may recognize this number sense routine. In this episode, I talk about why you even need a number sense routine, how to do the Which One Doesn’t Belong routine, and the benefits this powerful 5-minute routine can have in your classroom!

Helpful Links

Which One Doesn’t Belong Blog Post

Which One Doesn’t Belong YouTube Video

Get the Number Sense Routines Bundle!

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Ep 11: Hands on Morning Work For Early Elementary

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 11:00:58 GMT

Are you over worksheets for morning work?

I share some ideas for hands one morning work your students will love!

Get the Full Bundle!

Get the Morning Work Freebie HERE!

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Get a closer look at these resources on the blog!

Building Thinking Classrooms Tasks Starter Pack

Ep 10: Should There Be Homework in Kindergarten?

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 11:00:50 GMT

How do you feel about homework in kindergarten? If you don’t love kindergarten homework I have a solution for you that your students will love!Helpful LinksGet the Homework Games!Read the blog post!Watch the video version!Let's Connect! Instagram Website YouTube Channel

Ep 9: Thinking for Starting Building Thinking Classrooms? Start Here!

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 11:00:32 GMT

Are you ready to try? Try this Free Task!

You may have read the Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics book and are pumped to start, but are not sure where. This episode is for you I talk about my experience and what you need to think through before starting. This methodology will transform your math classroom and your students as problem solvers. Watch them go from hesitant and afraid to make mistakes to jumping in head first, and doing math in a way that makes sense to them that is more valuable than any algorithm you could teach!

In this podcast, I talk about spaces, materials, tasks, and more!

Any podcast episodes you want me to make?

Let me know in this Google Form!

Helpful Links

BTC Starter Pack

See my other posts about BTC or watch the videos in the Building Thinking Classrooms playlist!

Let's Connect!

Feel free to reach out on Instagram to learn more!

Ep. 8 All About Rekenreks

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 05:20:10 GMT

Would you like to try some of these activities for free?Do you have rekenreks sitting around your classroom and are wondering what to do with them? I remember getting given some with ESSRS funds and was like, what am I going to do with this? I dove in and did some research so you don't have to and let me tell you, my students love using them!This episode is for you! I talk all about what number racks or rekenreks are, how to use them, and what they are great for! I also give you some ideas of how to use them in your room to practice:

Subitizing
Making matching sets
One-to-one correspondence
Anchor to 5 and 10
Number recognition
Number Writing

Don’t forget to Grab the Free Bonus!

Spin, Count, and Cover Rekenreks
Rekenrek Decomposing Numbers Recording Sheets
Pick and Record or Spin and Record with numeral or number rack spinners and cards

I encourage you to try some of the free activities and consider investing in the activity bundle or mega bundle! Some teachers like you said, “Thank you so much for creating this resource! I loved how easy it was to implement into my classroom and my students really enjoyed it. ”“I have used this with my kindergarten students and they really enjoyed it. I found it to be engaging and educational. I would recommend it to other teachers to use in their classrooms as well. It’s a good resource to have and will help benefit your students’ kindergarten learning experience.”If you try the freebie, send me a DM and let me know how you like it!Blog Post All About RekenreksYT Video: All About RekenreksWant to see some rekenrek centers in action? Watch this video!FREE Rekenrek Activities Rekenrek Activity Bundle Rekenrek Activity Mega Bundle (with clip art so you can create to fit your needs!)

Ep. 7 Building Thinking Classrooms in Results Kindergarten- One Year Later

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 11:00:49 GMT

After a year of using the Building Thinking Classrooms framework, how did it work in Kindergarten? In this podcast, I talk about my results with these math problems for kindergarten, some things I am curious about, and what I would change if I were to start over!

Are you ready to try? Try this Free Task!

Timestamps

1:00 Results

6:30 Curiosities, Things I noticed

10:10 Things I would change for next time!

12:32 Try a Task!

14:03 Sharing with Colleagues

Helpful Links

Get the Building Thinking Classrooms Book!

Need some Tasks? Get started with this starter pack or read about them in this BTC task blog post!

Free Quick Image Resource!

Watch this podcast on Youtube!

Let's Connect!

Send me a message on Instagram

Check out the Blog for more ideas!

Ep. 6 Counting, Progress Monitoring and Visual Goal Setting

Wed, 24 May 2023 10:01:15 GMT

In this week's episode, I talk all about a quick assessment and data-tracking resource to support you and your students in creating counting and number sense goals and seeing their growth. This data-tracking resource is for you available in English and Spanish! Math conferencing and goal setting is a powerful tool giving your students focus and creates positive momentum with achievable, bite-sized goals!This kindergarten counting data tracker is unlike other assessments that give you no direction or information you can’t fully use. This visual goal-setting resource will let you know exactly which skills your students have mastered and give them and you a target to work towards! Your students can color in mastered content as they go to see how much growth they are making as mathematicians.Blog Post: YouTube Video Visual Goal Setting Sheet and Progress Tracker

Ep 5. What is Subitizing? Why do I need to know that?!

Thu, 18 May 2023 11:01:16 GMT

Learn more about subitizing, and get your kids excited about math! Subitizing is a useful skill for young mathematicians to learn and will help them develop number sense! In this episode, you'll learn the definition of subitizing and activities and games to reinforce the concept. With subitizing, you can teach your students how to easily recognize number patterns, and groups of objects they can use as they grow as mathematicians.

Timestamps:

:33 Subitizing is like a turtle covered in flowers 🐢🌺

1:55 Subitizing Definition

2:48 Perceptual VS Conceptual Subitizing

3:38 Why is subitizing important?

4:40 35 +12=?

7: 25 Subitizing in your math block

8:35 Quick Images

9:50 Quick Images Freebie!

10:53 Recap

11:45 Weekly lol break!

3 Ways to Use Quick Images in your classroom

YT Video:

Ep 4: One to One Correspondence Strategies and Activities

Mon, 08 May 2023 11:30:13 GMT

One-to-one correspondence isn't as easy as it sounds! There is so much involved in learning to count that we don't even think about as adults! In this episode, I go over what one-to-one correspondence is, strategies to help your students with their one-to-one correspondence, and some ideas of one-to-one correspondence activities you can add to your math centers to help!

Timestamps

:20 Math Story Tidbits

1:19 Teaching foundational skills isn't as easy as it seems

2:05 Counting is hard

3:16 Definition of one-to-one correspondence4:10 Strategies to help with one-to-one correspondence

4:26 Strategy1

5:23 Strategy 2

6:25 Strategy 3

6:50 Practice Makes Progress

7:25 Play is Key!

8:20 Math Center Ideas

Helpful Links

Blog Post

IG: numbersensemakesense

Ep 3: 5 Amazon Must Haves for the Math Classroom!

Mon, 01 May 2023 11:00:51 GMT

Ep 4: 5 Amazon Must Haves for the Classroom

Teacher appreciation is right around the corner, and I don’t know about you but I have had parents ask me if I have an Amazon wishlist. I don’t think you should have to spend your own money on your classroom but if someone else wants to buy you something…

Do you have a few dollars to spend with some PTA money? I've gathered a list of 5 Amazon finds that are versatile, fun, and inexpensive for the math classroom. This episode provides you with five amazing finds that are sure to bring some fun and creativity to your math lessons. From math manipulatives to 10 frame dice and number dice, these fun educational tools will bring a whole new level of excitement to your elementary math classroom.

Not only will these math finds help to excite and engage your students, but they will also help them to better understand key math concepts in an engaging way!

Timestamps

:18 Disclamer

1:15 Find #1

1:45 Secret tip to save some 💸

2:10 Find #2

2:52 Find #3

3:36 Find #4

4:11 Find #5

5:33 Recap

6:04 Some 🤣 the 🧵of the week: I’d happily go to staff meetings if….

Helpful Links

Check out the Blog Post or YT Video!

Centers using some of these items!Roll and Write 10 Frames

Let's Connect!

Math Center Editable Chart

Tips, Tricks, Stories from the Classroom plus a Rekenrek Freebie with tons of games and comes in English and Spanish!

Ep 2: 5 Steps to Setting Up Math Workshop for Success!

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 11:00:15 GMT

Have you been wanting to do math center time in your classroom but are unsure where to start and how to make it run like clockwork? This episode is for you! I go over the 5 Steps to Success I have been using for 10 YEARS that have kept math workshop my students favorite part of the day!

Timestamps

:58 List of the Steps

1:24 Don’t do math during math workshop

3:00 Set Clear Expectations

5:20 Practice

6:54 Visual Station Chart

8:45 Revisit and Reteach as needed

Helpful Links

Blog Post:

YT Video

IG: numbersensemakesense

Ep 1: Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics in Kindergarten

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 17:21:21 GMT

Try a task for free! ✨ Building Thinking Classrooms FREE Task

Have you heard of the Book “Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics” by PeterIn this episode, I go over why I was looking for an effective way to teach problem-solving that would work for kindergarten, how I started using the Building Thinking Classrooms in my Kindergarten class, my results, and my next steps! If you are hesitant to try it out in an early elementary classroom this podcast is for you!

Timestamps

1:34 What is a Thinking Classroom in this Context

4:33 Set Up, 3 Things you NEED to get started

5:46 Vertical Non Permenant Surfaces

6:22 Random Groups

8:00 Be deliberately less helpful

8:56 Starting Tasks/Non-Curricular Tasks

11:48 My First Official Math Task

13:00 Finding Tasks

14:14 Thin Slicing, Early Finishers

14:50 My Next Steps, Consolidating Learning

15:46 Big Goal

Helpful Links

Try a task for free! ✨ Building Thinking Classrooms FREE Task

Building Thinking Classrooms Tasks Blog: https://bit.ly/41d4E1c

Building Thinking Classroom Tasks Starter Kit: https://bit.ly/40iCWyQ

Roll or Spin and Count On

Classroom Screen: https://classroomscreen.com/

Building Thinking Classrooms K-2 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/902047717151517/

Building Thinking Classrooms Book: https://amzn.to/40eC2Dc

IG Handle: numbersensemakesense

Ep 19.5 Games for Counting On

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 10:00:25 GMT

This episode comes from this YouTube video so you can see the games in action! Though some prefer to listen than watch!

Your students may know their numbers to 20 in the figurative counter stage, but can they use them? In this video, you will learn 4 games you can play with your students to help them develop more sophisticated counting strategies.

These games are perfect for students who are past the tricky teens and are starting to work on addition. Since the numbers are small, they can feel confident in their ability to answer, begin to solve problems, and develop a sense of how numbers work together!

Helpful Links

How Many Candies?

Hide and Add

Hide and Count On!(partner game):

✨Save on the Figurative Counting - Counting On Bundle

See the Games in Action in this YouTube Video!

Looking for More Information about the counting stages?

Get the presentation slides for free here!

Let's Connect!