What the Heck is a Rekenrek?

A Rekenrek Is a Math Tool for K-2 Students

     

Rekenreks were introduced at the Star Summit earlier this month.  Rekenreks are a new math tool many teachers had never heard of before.  Our teachers loved them, so we wanted to share this amazing math tool with all of you.

A Rekenrek combines features of the number line, counters, and base-10 models. It is made of two strings of ten beads each, strategically broken into two groups: five red beads, and five white beads. With this math tool, children begin to think in groups of five and ten.
 
Rekenreks can also be differentiated to accommodate children who may be either more or less advanced. One string of five beads or ten beads may be easily created, just as a teacher may wish to use two strings of twenty beads each.

REKENREK VIDEOS:

• Rekenrec Math Explanation and Lessons
• Rekenrec Activities 
• Rekenrec Demonstration

REKENREK RESOURCES:

Using the Rekenrek as a Visual Model for Strategic Reasoning in Mathematics 

by Barbara Blanke includes:

• What is a Rekenrek?
• 6 Rekenrek Activities

Learning to Think Mathematically with a Rekenrek

A Resource for Teachers, A Tool for Young Children

by Jeffrey Frykholm includes:

• About the Rekenrek
• A Rationale for the Rekenrek
• 10 Rekenrek Activities

Sharing from Star Summit

Meredith Carrisalez, 5th grade teacher at Summit, shared a resource she received from Star Summit.  The workshop she attended was "Going Deeper in Reader's and Writer's Workshop" by Jennifer Ritter from Republic.  During the workshop, teachers were able to create example writing folders (writing offices) for student desks.  Here's what they look like completed:

We linked the resources she used:

Writing Office Cards One

Writing Office Cards Two

Writing Office Cards Three

Jill Aubuchon, 5th grade teacher at Summit, shared how she used the math vocabulary sort from Mathtastic! Grades 3-5.  You can find the vocabulary words in a FREE Teachers Pay Teachers download from Kristine Nannini HERE.

Don't forget to share YOUR favorite resources from Star Summit with us, too!

Share Your Favorites from Star Summit!

Star Summit is a wonderful opportunity for us to collaborate and share with other districts in our area.  There were so many session options, there are sure to be some sessions you had to miss that you really wanted to attend.  This is where we will continue the collaboration that began at Star Summit.

One of the sessions we were able to attend was Paige Thompson's "There's No Crying in Math!".  Paige is a Special Education teacher in Republic and introduced us to the Kentucky Numeracy Project.  You must register for this FREE site and it takes a little time for you to get approved, but it offers resources like webinars and an intervention guide.  We are excited to check it out!

Share favorite resources or sites you learned about from Star Summit by responding to this post.

Star Summit Math Presentations - Mathtastic!

2014

    K-2

Presentation Link:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1geD92pAcTiI__Q1OzqyFP7Q6k3m5gK2iK8ngXKv0V6w/edit?usp=sharing

3-5

Presentation Link:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10GizVAZ22kj5HM2gLwiYQAVTClIlcgvhA9kVj_8ivE4/edit?usp=sharing