Sometimes the best opportunities come out struggles. It was mid-December and a kindergarten teacher had asked me to model a guided math lesson on the reviewing the numbers zero through 10. My goal was for this small group of kindergarten students to understand the relationship between numbers and quantities. The teacher gave me some background knowledge about the students in the group and shared that the students were ready for numbers six to 10.
Our warm-up to the lesson began. I eagerly asked the students to use their dry erase markers to write the number four on their whiteboard. The students took off the lids to their markers and starred at me. It was like they're little faces were saying, "You want us to do what?!" I immediately knew that my planned lesson was out the window! I KNOW you have been there too! It was in this moment that I realized that I needed to create a quick, fun way to help students read and recognition numbers to build subitizing and number sense skills which is painless for teachers to use in their math classrooms! Introducing Speed Strips...
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Simplifying the Road to Number Recognition and Subitizing
What are Math Speed Strips?
Vroom! Zoom! Energize your students with these simple strips that represent numbers in many different ways. Each set has 26 cards and each card has five numbers represented on them. The objective is that students move left to right along the strips and read the number representations. At first, students will rely on counting each number. As students practice and build their number sense, students will begin to subitize, or instantly recognize the numbers. Students can use Speed Strips independently, with a partner, or in a small group.
If you want to create a routine for using Speed Strips, add a quick two or three minute practice at the start of your small group or guided math lesson.
If you want to create a routine for using Speed Strips, add a quick two or three minute practice at the start of your small group or guided math lesson.
How to Use Math Speed Strips
Students get a set of cards, it can be randomly selected or assigned. Students may choose to use a mat to work through the cards in the set.
If using a mat, the students will place the set of cards in the center of the mat. Each card will be read left to right. Students can use their finger, a pointer, pencil, or toy car to move along the racetrack as the students read the car. These Speed Strips allow all students access to the numbers, by activating their auditory, visual, and kinesthetic modalities.
Auditory: Students say the number.
Visual: Students see the number represented on the car.
Kinesthetic: Students move a physical object across the card as they read the numbers.
Materials Needed
How to Organize
There are a variety of ways to display Speed Strips, if you are interested in something more than tossing them into a basket. I prefer each card set being accessible.
You can place Speed Strips on a peg board.
Speed Strips can be displayed on jewelry displays found at local hobby and craft stores.
Magnetic hooks placed on the side of a filing cabinet work too.
Command Hooks could also be used to place Speed Strips on an already existing surface.
How to Prepare the Sets of Cards
1. Print Speed Strips on colored cardstock. I used a rainbow pattern for the sets of cards. There is a full color cover (optional) or a black and white cover that comes with each set of cards.
- I love the versatility of colors. If you like specific colors or your classroom has a theme, you can print out the sets of cards using those colors. I used six different colors in my pattern, but any would do!
- If you like using six colors like I did, you would need 9 pages of colored cardstock for each of the 6 sets... so 54 pages of colored cardstock in six different colors.
- You can make it simple by buying a large pack of colored cardstock and just using them or mix-and-match the colors to your hearts content. I use Recollections by Michaels cardstock. I load up my race cart on scrapbook paper sale days... it is great for printing Speed Strips and math centers.
2. I ALWAYS cut before I laminate, but I realize that most teachers laminate the pages before cutting! I use a Swingline® Paper Trimmer as my go-to paper cutter. I was able to cut 5 pages at a time (since it is heavy cardstock, which sped up the prep time!
3. Place the Speed Strips at the edge of the three-hole punch (see photograph for alignment). I use a Swingline® 20-Sheet Desktop Hole Punch - Silver. Since I was using cardstock, I only punched a few at a time. If you punch too many, the strips get stuck and can easily tear. Avoid this by punching about five strips at a time.
4. Place each Speed Strips set on a binder ring. Each strip is identifiable by a letter of the alphabet on the right side. You can organize the Speed Strips in alphabetically or randomly. Just make sure the cover shows when displaying the cards!
If you want to use this activity to check each students’ level of understanding, there are pre-assessments and progress monitoring tools included. These tools can help you meets students' individual needs for RtI or intervention through these simple assessments (see below at some of the tool included.)
I love using the colored sponge tip applicators when collecting data on the students. It is so simple to mark the correct responses!
I love using the colored sponge tip applicators when collecting data on the students. It is so simple to mark the correct responses!
Want to try these for FREE?
I'll keep you afloat. I encourage teachers to give them a try, but I can guarantee that once your students start using Math Speed Strips, they will be begging you for more! Download a free set of Speed Strips by clicking on the button below!
What skills are included in this Speed Strips Number Sense Bundle?
Dice
Dominoes (common representations of the number are shown on the ends of the domino)
Mixed Dominoes (mixed representations of the number are shown on the ends of the domino)
Ten Frames
Tally Marks
Numeral
These skills are represented on six card sets for each of the number sets 0-5, 6-10, 0-10, 11-15, 16-20, and 0-20.
These groupings of numbers allow students to master small number sets, before adding numbers that are unknown. It helps build on students' strengths!
If you want to use the 36 differentiated Math Speed Strips in your classroom, you find it in my TpT shop.
If you want to use the 36 differentiated Math Speed Strips in your classroom, you find it in my TpT shop.
What ways are you promote subitizing and number sense in your classroom?
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