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Counting Collections
Counting Collections
is a student centered contextual activity. Students organize and count a collection of objects. They then record their work and have the opportunity to observe and share out during class. When teachers implement Counting Collections regularly, students have repeat opportunities to develop foundational math skills, number sense and make mathematical connections. They engage with problem solving while developing conceptual understanding.
The steps of a Counting Collection are as follows. Teachers modify and adjust as they tailor the activity to their students' mathematical development.
The teacher plans the activity by choosing a learning goal, identifying collections of objects, and preparing the recording sheets. The teacher can strategically pair students in advance, allow them to choose their own partners, etc. After implementing the activity a few times teachers may notice opportunities for refinement and preplanning. A Preplanning template (by TEDD) can be helpful.
Students are given or choose a collection of objects to count with a partner.
They organize and count their collection. If working in a partnership, they must work together to organize and count the collection.
Once they organize and count they record their counting with numbers, drawings, words, colors, etc. on paper.
While students are working, the teacher circulates and checks in with each pair observing as they work and organize, engaging them in questioning to elicit their thinking, assisting them as they work in a partnership, etc.
During the final part of the session the teacher facilitates while students share their work. Student ideas and conversations guide the discussion.
Differentiation Strategies for for upper elementary This slide deck shares ways to extend student understanding in upper elementary.
Images collection of multi-packs. These can be used to extend student thinking, bridge to repeated addition or multiplication, and encourage abstract representations. Because the images are static, students must problem solve and strategize how to count and represent.
Slide Deck of Student Strategies: These are actual 1st grader - created strategies. The slide deck is an opportunity for partner Talk / warm-up activity to get students talking about organizing and planing.
Questioning and Confering
Questioning and Confering
are essential components of Counting Collections. Teachers use questioning strategies to find out what students already know, what strategies they are using, and to guide their inquiry as they work through rigorous problems and expand their mathematical thinking. Teacher questioning is one of the 6 high leverage pedagogical practices and directly supports student development of the Math Practices K-12.
Recording Sheets
Recording Sheets
are an essential component of Counting Collections. Through recording the students represent their understanding of counting, quantity, numbers, and strategy. Here you will find basic recording sheets as well as ones that provide extension opportunities.
Teacher Recording Sheets
are helpful for monitoring student strategies while they work and for monitoring progress over time. While students work you can also note which students will present that day and in which order.
Teacher Recording Sheet by TEDD (use this one or create one that fits your learning progression)
Teacher recording sheet with vertical alignment of standards (use as a model to create your own for your learning goal)
Presenting Student Work
Presenting Student Work
is the last component of a Counting Collections session. The teacher is the facilitator for students to share work, ask questions of each other, explain their thinking and make connections to new or old strategies. Before presenting student work, teachers:
analyze the work and strategies students use to look for common strategies, misconceptions, alternative representations, etc.
determine the order of presenting student work as it aligns with your learning goal of the session
prepare response questions or connections in anticipation of the sharing. Of course there will always be surprises during this portion and that's a goal as well!
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