In my consulting work, one of the biggest frustrations of upper elementary educators is surrounding students' lack of number sense and basic fact fluency. Too often, our students are caught in the additive phase of reasoning of skip counting even within the contexts of multi-digit calculations and work with fractions and decimals. However, there are ways we can explore mathematics with students that will unlock a positive math journey for all!
This workshop will focus on how Cuisenaire Rods have the power to help all our students progress on the development of mathematical reasoning from the additive phase of reasoning into multiplicative reasoning throughout the 3-5 grade span as well as develop fraction number sense. Together we can foster the development of curious, risk-taking, confident, and flexible mathematicians!
Here's what you can expect from my two and a half hour on-demand workshop:
- Customized workshop notebook to keep track of ideas that resonate, reflections, and record your action items
- Discussion of the foundations of elementary mathematics: fluency, problem solving, and grade level content standards.
- Introduction to Cuisenaire Rods including the organization of the colors of the rods, managing them in the classroom, and introducing them to the students.
- Separate videos for grades 3, 4 and 5 demonstrating ways in which the Cuisenaire rods can help you explore the content standards of your grade level.
- Online resources that will enable students to continue to explore Cuisenaire rods virtually during remote instruction.
- An access code to a 6-month classroom membership at https://www.brainingcamp.com/ and their amazing suite of online manipulatives including Cuisenaire rods!
- Closed Captioning for all videos
Example Curriculum
Hi, I’m Ann Elise Record.
I am a NH certified K-8 Educator as well as NH Elementary Math Specialist. I’ve been an educator for twenty years in the roles of classroom teacher, K-5 Math Coach, adjunct faculty member for Plymouth State University, and currently a Bureau of Education and Research national presenter and an independent elementary math consultant providing training both in-person and virtually. I am a contributing author, together with Dr. Alison Mello, on Dr Nicki Newton’s book “Fluency Doesn’t Just Happen with Addition and Subtraction.”
My passion is working with educators to help them implement best practices within the three basic pillars of classroom math instruction that encourage growth mindset messages: math fact fluency, word problem structures, and understanding progressions of the standards. Together we can create engaged, curious, risk-taking, flexible and confident lifelong mathematicians!
