NumberSense for Educators
Join The Cause
Why
“Number Sense: the most important mathematical concept in 21st Century K-12 educationâ€
– Keith Devlin, Stanford University
How
You can help to promote math literacy and fluency in your community by introducing NumberSense to your class, school and district.
Impact
Your efforts will instill critical skills, improve student achievement and prepare your students to contribute to the 21st Century economy.
Join The Cause – Plant Your STEM Seeds Today
How do Teachers Benefit from using Number Sense?
What exactly is the Number Sense Concept as applied to Students?
In student terms, number sense can be described as a child’s ability to use and understand numbers.
Having number sense, means students know:
- Relative values of numbers
- How to use numbers to make decisions
- How to use numbers in various ways when adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing
- How to develop useful strategies when counting, measuring or estimating.
How can teachers use NumberSense?
Teachers can consider using NumberSense in many ways:
- Using Number Sense during a whole-class independent practice session to show students how to become better at the lesson’s learning objective.  At first, teachers should stress accuracy of responses over timeliness of responses.
- Creating a Number Sense station in a series of different math station activities OR teachers can create multiple Number Sense stations, with each station focusing on a different concept within the app. Â For example, create the following Number Sense Stations: Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication.
- Projecting Number Sense on a white screen or Smart Board. Formatively assess how well the class answers questions as a whole. Â Teachers can ask students to respond with answers verbally in an informal manner.
- Setting up practice sessions for small groups of students who may be working above or below grade level standards. Teachers can use the Number Sense app to challenge students on concepts that are not being taught during whole-class instruction or to review foundational math skills. Note: This is great for students who are in Gifted and Talented programs or students who have IEPs and require additional practice.
- Using it as a bell-ringer or warm up. Teachers can ask students to play Number Sense game sessions of their choice to practice skills of choice. Giving students multiple learning options is a plus!
- Using Number Sense as a “ticket out.†Teachers can ask students to display individual scores before students leave the classroom or transition to a new content area.
Once students are familiar with the app, teachers can students to practice skills using various layouts of the number board. Â For example, ask students to practice using the zig-zag layout, followed by the spiral layout.
I want to become a NumberSensei and bring NumberSense to my school!
Great! Simply fill out the Educator’s form below and we will follow-up within one business day to schedule a discussion.