It Makes Sense! Using the Hundreds Chart to Build Number Sense

Written by Donna Boucher

Donna has been a teacher, math instructional coach, interventionist, and curriculum coordinator. A frequent speaker at state and national conferences, she shares her love for math with a worldwide audience through her website, Math Coach’s Corner. Donna is also the co-author of Guided Math Workshop.

There are books that provide great classroom activities, and there are books that help teachers build their own mathematical understanding.  And then there are those that do both.  The books in the It Makes Sense series, written by Melissa Conklin and Stephanie Sheffield and published by Math Solutions, fall into the latter category.

It Makes Sense! Using the Hundreds Chart to Build Number Sense is the second book in the series.  Be sure to check out their ten-frames book, too.  A hundreds chart is a must-have classroom resource, however, it is often underutilized.  The great thing about this book is that it contains 10 lessons and 10 games that provide a progression of skill-building activities from basic recognition of patterns through using the hundreds chart for multi-digit addition and subtraction.

The authors have seriously thought of everything a teacher needs from preparation to lesson delivery to extensions and differentiation.  Want technology suggestions?  They have that as well.

A great example of all this book offers is Lesson 5, One More or One Less.  The lesson includes instructions for using this activity in both whole- and small-group settings.  The materials list clearly indicates which reproducibles are used for each setting.  I love the key questions included with each lesson.  They specifically address the CCSS Mathematical Practices by having students describe how they arrived at their answers.  Two technology tips explain how to adapt the lesson for use with an interactive whiteboard to maximize student learning.  Teaching tips offer guidance on how to address incorrect responses, alternatives to the spinner that’s provided, instructions for addressing numbers that are already on the chart, and suggestions for pacing. This lesson also includes two of my favorite features of this book–Teacher Reflection and Assessment: Teacher Checklists.  The Teacher Reflection provides a narrative of the lesson being used in an actual classroom.  There’s just no substitute for “hearing” how the lesson played out with an actual teacher and students.  Several lessons in the book, including Lesson 5, include reproducible teacher checklists for documenting student progress.  The checklists are provided as blank reproducibles, but a completed teacher checklist is provided in the lesson to show how it can be used.  Formative assessment is the key to effectively addressing students’ differing needs, so I’m thrilled that the authors included not only the checklists, but suggestions for using them.

As you can probably tell, I LOVE this book and the series.  The authors have come up with a winning format that provides teachers everything they need to fully utilize must-have mathematical tools in the classroom.  I look forward to seeing what they come up with next!

 

17 Comments

  1. Carlin Smith

    I ordered this one and the ten-frames edition a while back based on your favorite book list. They are gems! An invaluable resource!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Thanks for the feedback, Carlin!

      Reply
  2. Mrs. Tyner

    Great post. I am wondering if you know of anything similar to this that would work for 4th grade? I know Marcy Cook has hundred chart activities…what do you think?

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      I don’t know of anything specifically for 4th grade. That said, if your kiddos have never done activities like these, they would still benefit.

      Reply
  3. Danielle

    I used both of these books last year in my Kinder class and LOVED them! They were great for math routines, small groups, and whole group instruction! I agree these are a great series. I can’t wait to see what they have too!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Thanks, Danielle! It’s also been my experience that these activities are very popular with the kiddos. They make learning so much fun!

      Reply
  4. Tammy

    I bought It Makes Sense at the beginning of summer. I’m looking forward to read it. Currently I’m reading Share and Compare, which is a great one.
    ❀ Tammy
    Forever in First

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      This will definitely be a book you use on a regular basis, Tammy!

      Reply
  5. Amy B

    WOW! Will have to check this and the 10 frame one out! Thanks Donna!!!!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Always looking out for you, Amy!! 🙂

      Reply
  6. TheElementary MathManiac

    The 10 frame book has been a long time favorite of mine! I have this 100 grid book sitting on my nightstand in my to read pile for this summer! Your post got me very excited about checking it out!

    Tara
    The Math Maniac

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      You’ll love it Tara! So teacher friendy!

      Reply
  7. Amy B

    So I bought the 10 frame one first and I can’t put it down~it’s my beach read next week!! Thanks as always my friend!!!!
    Amy

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Beach? Where?!

      Reply
  8. Emilee

    Hey! I’ve been following your blog for a while and I just love it! If you want to check out my blog, I’d love some opinions! Thanks!
    http://www.newliferookie.blogspot.com

    Reply
  9. kmcd5813

    Grayson Wheatley’s book Coming to Know Numbers is great for all ages but has good activities for upper grades.

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      So I was just looking for that book…is it a textbook?? It doesn’t seem like it’s easily available.

      Reply

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