We all know what literacy is, right? Do you know what numeracy is? Did you know that there are stages of numeracy just like there are stages of literacy? I know, you must be thinking to yourself, WHAT? If some of you have suffered from math anxiety, or you've said, 'My brain just doesn't do math.' You really are not a victim, nor do you have a condition that won't allow you to do math! Great news, right?! I was so excited several years ago when this all started to make sense to me! I was enlightened that I wasn't a complete mathematical failure and there was still a lot of hope for me! I am here to tell you there is hope for you as well my friends!
There are actual stages of numeracy that one must develop through in order to have strong number sense, which we all know is the foundation for good mathematical thinking! We know that there are specific stages of reading development, or at least most people do, but have you ever thought that numbers are just another representation of the stages of numeracy?
In education, we are at a crucial, very crucial crossroads with all of the debate out there about Common Core standards, "new math", algorithms, etc. In order to understand what the Common Core standards are asking students to be able to do, we must first understand the stages of numeracy.
The first stage of developing numeracy is called Pre-Operational. Meaning, before operations. Before students can perform operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division they must understand counting. Pretty basic, right? However counting involves so much more than just rote counting (saying the number names, 1,2,3,4,5 and so on) Within counting students must be able to say the counting sequence, visualize quantities, match numerals to quantities, and count on from a number. This is such a HUGE foundation that in traditional standards we've skipped from rote counting right to performing operations. The good news is that it's never too late to develop these skills! Students, especially elementary age students don't feel silly if you ask them to count, they do this all the time. But as students get older, and we try to help them understand more complex math, if we asked them to count, or demonstrate a deep understanding of counting and what numerals mean, they'd probably shut down. That's where Number Sense Routines can help!
More to come about Number Sense Routines and Developing Numeracy! In the meantime, check out these titles: How Children Learn Number Concepts by Kathy Richardson, and Number Sense Routines; Building Numerical Literacy Every Day in Grades K-3 by Jessica Shumway.
There are actual stages of numeracy that one must develop through in order to have strong number sense, which we all know is the foundation for good mathematical thinking! We know that there are specific stages of reading development, or at least most people do, but have you ever thought that numbers are just another representation of the stages of numeracy?
In education, we are at a crucial, very crucial crossroads with all of the debate out there about Common Core standards, "new math", algorithms, etc. In order to understand what the Common Core standards are asking students to be able to do, we must first understand the stages of numeracy.
The first stage of developing numeracy is called Pre-Operational. Meaning, before operations. Before students can perform operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division they must understand counting. Pretty basic, right? However counting involves so much more than just rote counting (saying the number names, 1,2,3,4,5 and so on) Within counting students must be able to say the counting sequence, visualize quantities, match numerals to quantities, and count on from a number. This is such a HUGE foundation that in traditional standards we've skipped from rote counting right to performing operations. The good news is that it's never too late to develop these skills! Students, especially elementary age students don't feel silly if you ask them to count, they do this all the time. But as students get older, and we try to help them understand more complex math, if we asked them to count, or demonstrate a deep understanding of counting and what numerals mean, they'd probably shut down. That's where Number Sense Routines can help!
More to come about Number Sense Routines and Developing Numeracy! In the meantime, check out these titles: How Children Learn Number Concepts by Kathy Richardson, and Number Sense Routines; Building Numerical Literacy Every Day in Grades K-3 by Jessica Shumway.