Class Size Rekenrek

My little man is at daycare today, so I'm back to multitasking like nobody's business.  I have been doing laundry, cleaning the house, running errands, making appointments, and creating. 

If you have been keeping up with me this summer, you already know that I am reading Number Sense Routines, by Jessica Shumway.  This book has really got me thinking about how I approach number sense in my classroom and how much I really need to improve this in my classroom next year.  I have made a couple of resources already and have an idea of when they will be included in my daily instruction.  If you would like to see those resources, click here or here.  I still was lacking a way of including rekenreks into my number sense routine. 

Introducing....

It is not the prettiest of things but it will definitely serve its purpose.  The goal behind making this so large is that all my owls will be able to see and work with this during our whole group number sense routine.  I share a room with another teacher and space is an issue.  I didn't want to have the owls sitting in a squished circle trying to strain and see a small paper/counter version on the floor.

How did I make this you may be asking yourself?  I used the following supplies-a moveable garment rack (got it at Target,) yarn, 2 different colored pool noodles, and a knife for cutting the pool noodles.

1.  I measured out and marked 1 inch sections on the pool noodles.

2.  Cut sections apart with a sharp kitchen knife.

3. Measured out and cut enough yarn so it could be wrapped around the poles of the rack.

4.  Placed 5 of each color on each of the yarn pieces.

5.  Tied and Tada!

To use this rekenreck, you simply decide what numbers you want to show the owls and have them tell you what number of "doughnuts" they see and how did they know.

I looped the yarn around the poles to make it easier to tie and untie, so I could add and take away doughnuts quickly.

I am in the process of making a pack to go along with this as well.
~Erin