A Rekenrek is composed of 2 rods with ten beads on each rod. Each rod is composed of 5 white beads and 5 red beads. This “five structure” offers visual support allowing the quantity of five to be visualized as a whole. Soon the child will see that 7 is just 2 more than 5 and thus will see the 7 as “chunks” or groups, rather than as 7 individual beads to be counted. By conceptualizing numbers as groups, instead of as things to be counted, students are able to see early on how they can combine numbers to make other numbers. The grouping of beads in two colors and two rows also invites students to investigate the relationships between, and nurtures the use of 5s, 10s and doubles as points of reference for mathematical thinking. This tool was designed to support the natural ways that children develop mathematical understandings and to encourage them to use strategies like doubles or near doubles, and “thinking 10” in place of counting from one or counting on to solve addition and subtraction problems. Along the way, children develop a better sense of number relationships that form the basis for efficient calculation and allow for quick recall of math facts.
How is a Rekenrek used?
The Rekenrek is typically used in kindergarten to 2nd grade. There are a lot of uses, that are explained in the teacher guide “ Reasoning with the Rekenrek”
The Rekenrek can be used in various tasks in a classroom. We published a teacher guide on how to use the Rekenrek in the Classroom, which is named “Reasoning with the Rekenrek” by Angela Giglio Andrews & Diane Cushing Liesen . for more information on this book, the authors and where to buy.
