Number sense is about students' knowledge of not only numbers, but relationships between numbers and number operations. To develop number sense, students must first master their basic knowledge of numbers, which includes quickly identifying the number of objects in a set, count sequence to at least ten in their everyday lives, and learn to read, write and understand numbers. Students then have to build their number relations by determining which groups contain more objects, and will eventually lead to their understanding of addition and subtraction. Once they have these skills mastered, they can then complete the simple arithmetic that is required in the early grades for addition and subtraction, which builds upon their ability to compose and decompose numbers.
Click on the links above to open resources to help build students' number sense.