Sunday, November 2, 2008
developing numeracy with the rekenrek (grades 1 and 2)
I have been searching for ways to develop numeracy among my sped students at about grade 1 and 2 and have had a lot of good results using the rekenrek. It's a small abacus with 20 beads that is divided up into fives (five red and five white beads on the top row and the same on the bottom row). I find it really helps my students to see how to make tens when adding numbers (such as seeing that 5+ 6 is actually 10 + 1 and 7 +7 is actually 10 +4) . Rather than just struggling to memorize those facts or always counting up to find the answer, they can begin to visualize pictures in their mind (by first seeing it on the rekenrek). If anyone is interested you can find a lot of information by looking up "www.rekenrek.com" on the internet. If anyone has other ideas about developing numeracy (especially with addition/subtracion facts) with this grade level I would love to hear your ideas.
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2 comments:
I have not worked with the rekenrek frames. From what I have been reading it seems that they are another version of the ten frame. I'd be very interested in knowing about good resources for lessons to use with these. I did find a site that has games using the frame and other visuals. If you go to www.rekenweb.nl you can find them. I'm sure there are other better sites. Any suggestions?
I am not familiar with the Rekenrek frames either. In researching this method, I found a site for you, Jean, that has a free downloadable packet of activities. It sounds like a nice complement to five- and ten-frame activities. You can find it here: http://www.mathlearningcenter.org/media/Rekenrek_0308.pdf
I'm planning to explore this idea further. Thanks, Cynthia, for exposing us to it.
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