Resources to Support Numeracy

What is Numeracy?

Numeracy involves students recognizing and understanding the role of mathematics in many contexts. It involves choosing the mathematics to use, applying mathematical skills and evaluating their use to solve problems in the world around us. Highly numerate students interpret, apply and evaluate mathematical strategies, and communicate mathematical reasoning in real world situations.

Efficiency - Accuracy - Flexibility

Do students need to know their math facts? YES absolutely they do! But they ALSO need to develop numeracy.

Math facts require memorization. Numeracy requires comprehension and application. In short, it requires thinking.

Try these links for math fact practice: Education.com / SplashLearn / MathFactsBasketball / Math Playground

The 3 Components of Numeracy

Number Sense

Playing with numbers, mental math, breaking down numbers, seeing patterns, operation strategies.

Problem Solving

Contextualized problems, open ended questions, numeracy challenges, puzzles etc.

Fun

Activities that are enjoyable or interesting or challenging.

Number Sense

"Number sense is good intuition about numbers and their relationships. It develops gradually as a result of exploring numbers, visualizing them in a variety of contexts, and relating them in ways that are not limited by traditional algorithms.”- Howden,1989

Here are links to some great number sense activities:

Number Talks

Which one Doesn't Belong?

Same and Different

Math Before Bed

Two Truths and a Lie

Problem Solving

Problem solving requires thought and synthesis of previously learned knowledge not merely applying an algorithm. A problem is a situation for which no path to the answer is known.