A Rekenrek is NOT a 'Counting Frame' or an abacus (and this really DOES matter)

Watch and find out what this Dutch word really does translate as in English and hear why it really matters that we get this right.
Why Counting Doesn't Lead to Calculating
Are you still teaching children to use counting to add and subtract?
Did you know that this I what will STOP them developing what's known as number sense fluency?
When I first heard this statement I was so confused. How could this be true? I'd been told this all my life and had taught every child in my class to calculate in this way.
I had seen the outcome of this approach though and it wasn't pretty.
Children (who then became adults) counting in 1s on their fingers (or 'head bobbing along an invisible number line') rather than fluently and easily using their number 1-10 bonds.
When we teach children to subitise (to see and label and amount as a whole without counting - see my 'Subitising' videos to understand how this natural ability works) we show them how numbers are made up of other numbers.
For example when I can see 2 cubes and 2 cubes and know this is 4 cubes then it makes sense that 2 + 2 =4 and 4 - 2 = 2. However, when I count 4 cubes '1, 2, 3, 4' I only say '2' once...where is the other 2? (For more on why counting doesn't make sense to young children search for the video of the same name on this channel).
Makes sense doesn't it?
Love to receive more training, tips and resources? Make sure you download the FREE Super Subitising resources on the EYMaths website homepage here www.eymaths.co.uk
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