Counting Three Times

Counting Three Times: What is it?

When a child is counting three times to join two numbers, the child will count out the first addend using a chosen math tool such as counters, then will count out the second addend and finally count both sets to arrive at the answer.

Overview:

Counting Three Times (compter 3 fois) is a strategy that can be used by students for addition or subtraction. Early on in child development, many children may not yet be able to hold the two sets of numbers in their head in order to count. They are also continuing to develop the key idea of cardinality allowing the student to trust that the final number stated while counting is also how many are in the set without having to recount. Giving students manipulatives to 'act out' each stage of the problem may help them to keep the two numbers separated and arrive at an answer.

Supporting Students Using Counting Three Times:

To support students counting 3 times, provide students with opportunities to directly model problems and use concrete materials.

For example, an everyday living activity to support this strategy is the Sign-In Survey from p.155 of ‘What to Look For’. We want to ensure students are accurately tagging items with the appropriate count and representing accurate sets of number before moving on.

Where to Next?

Shifting students to move from Counting Three Times requires intentional guidance from the educator. Encouraging the student to Count On (Count Back for subtraction) may be a next step toward a more efficient strategy. For more information on determining if a student is ready to shift from 'Counting three Times' to 'Count on', refer to page 28 in What to Look For.

Games & Activities to Support Counting Three Times:

Using Dice

Have students roll two 6 sided dot dice and add the two together. This can be done while playing board games like Snakes and Ladders, or other games that require the rolling of 2 dice. As students become more efficient, they can roll one numbered die and one dot die. (Lawson; pg. 164)

Fifty Chips

The object of the game is to be the first player to fill all 50 squares on the game board(MK4). Players take turns rolling the die, then puts that number of chips on their game board, one per square. The game ends when one player successfully fills all squares on his or her game board; or, when played cooperatively, when all game boards are filled. This game can be played as early as Kindergarten, but you may consider using game boards with only 20 or 30 squares, then giving each child 20 or 30 chips. (Lawson; pg. 160)

Fifty Chips Gameboard

Fill The Tower

Use square tiles or linking cubes, take turns building towers on a game board (MK5). The towers are constructed by adding the number of tiles or cubes that have been rolled on the die. Pay close attention to building the towers to the correct height. The game ends when one player successfully fills all the towers on his or her game board. (Lawson; pg. 161)

Fill the Tower Gameboard

Looking to learn more? Check out the recorded session!

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