Number Sense Routines: Counting Around the Circle

Math was never my favorite subject. I realized later when I was teaching math that I never truly developed number sense. I didn’t have the ability to work quickly and easily with numbers so any time I had to any kind of mental math I would panic!

Number sense is complex and encompasses having a sense of what numbers mean, having the ability to look at the world in terms of quantity and number, make comparisons, notice patterns, and ultimately have flexibility, fluidity, and automaticity with numbers. In her book, Number Sense Routines, Jessica Shumway offers several strategies that can be used as daily routines to increase kids’ number sense.

One easy routine to start with is Counting Around the Circle. In a traditional classroom this would look like kids actually sitting in a circle, but at our house this means we count around the breakfast table! I’ve found that breakfast is the easiest and best place to incorporate this routine (as well as other quick educational things) because it can be done quickly and easily and everyone is at the table, including Daddy. For the most part everyone is in good moods since the craziness of the day hasn't started and there's food! Food always makes things better!

You can use this strategy for so many things, from basic counting by 1s from zero to counting by eighths when you get there! Counting by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s is a great place to start and make it more challenging by starting at a number other than zero. Choose a person to start and your starting point (zero, 25, 120, etc) and get counting!

Even though it’s just the four of us and Cooper is not even three, he can already pretty easily say his number when we count by ones and twos, even when we count backward. It’s truly amazing what kids absorb and soak up if the atmosphere is positive and they think it’s fun. We challenge ourselves to see how fast we can make it around the circle and try to beat our time. It's also a great way to get a little teamwork and encouragement in first thing in the morning.

By incorporating little routines like this one during our regular family time we are (hopefully!) creating an atmosphere where the kids will become comfortable with numbers and develop fluency and flexibility. Being intentional to point out places in our day when I’m using math is another way to help the kids see that math isn’t just something we do when it’s time to open the math book but a useful tool we use in everyday life.

The truth is, God created math and math really is good and beautiful, but sometimes it takes a little creative fun to reveal that beauty. Hopefully the kids will develop a deeper appreciation for numbers than I had as a child and these little routines help me fall in love with math as well!

In her book she offers several more strategies that I’ll be incorporating over the next several months.

How could you incorporate something like this in your home?

Happy counting, friends!