Making Number Sense Make Sense: A Math Podcast for Early Elementary Teachers

Are you looking for Building Thinking Classrooms Style Math Tasks that are perfect for 2nd garde? In this episode, I talk about the best of the best, most popular second grade low-floor, high-ceiling math tasks!Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form!Helpful Links2nd Grade Math Task Blog2nd Grade Bestselling Bundle2nd Grade Year-Long BundleTry a FREE Math TaskLet's Connect!InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

Are you looking for Building Thinking Classrooms Style Math Tasks that are perfect for first grade? In this episode, I talk about the best of the best, most popular 1st grade low-floor, high-ceiling math tasks!Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form!Helpful Links1st Grade Math Task Blog1st Grade Bestselling Bundle1st Grade Year Long BundleTry a FREE Math TaskLet's Connect! InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

Are you looking for Building Thinking Classrooms Style Math Tasks that are perfect for Kindergarten? In this episode, I talk about the best of the best, most popular Kindergarten low floor, high ceiling math tasks!Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form! Helpful LinksKindergarten Math Task BlogK Bestselling BundleK Year Long BundleTry a FREE Math TaskLet's Connect! InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

Let’s discuss three easy warm-ups to develop number sense in early elementary math!Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form! Helpful LinksBlog PostQuick Images Blog PostWhich One Doesn’t Belong Blog PostChoral Counting Blog PostLet's Connect! InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

So you want to set up your math time to maximize success, but you don't have a curriculum. In this episode, we discuss components you can add to your math block that will last you all year!Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form!Helpful LinksGet a FREE Math TaskBlog PostDecomposing Numbers LessonsSetting Up A Thinking ClassroomLet's Connect!InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

In this episode, we'll talk about how to set up your math class for success starting from the first week! Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form!Helpful LinksBlog PostDecomposing Numbers LessonsSetting Up A Thinking ClassroomLet's Connect!InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

Parents and teachers! Are you looking for ideas to help with math at home?Sometimes all it takes is 5 minutes daily to have a huge impact on your child’s learning and math skills!These 5 games require no materials only your time with your child and your helping your kids with math in the process!You can get these game ideas and more in this Math Game Activity Book!This post contains affiliate linksHelpful LinksMath Games Activity BookBlog PostLet's Connect!InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

The summer slide is real! If you are a parent, caregiver, or teacher looking for games to play or suggest to your families, this episode is for you! This episode contains 7+ game ideas to help your little ones with math over the summer! No worksheets are required!Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form!Helpful LinksBlogActivity BookDicePlaying CardsFree Games and Practice PagesLet's Connect!InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

In today’s episode, we’re diving into simple, hands-on ways to help your child practice writing numbers — without the boredom or frustration! Whether you're a parent, teacher, or caregiver, these playful activities will keep young learners engaged while building fine motor skills and number sense.First up, we talk about Water Painting, the perfect activity for hot summer days. Grab a paintbrush and a cup of water, and let your child “paint” numbers on the sidewalk or wall. It’s fun, mess-free, and dries away on its own!Next, we explore Sand Writing, a tactile favorite that helps kids form numbers while engaging their senses. It’s a great way to build memory and fine motor skills — plus, kids love the feel of sand between their fingers.For a neater option, try Gel Writing. With just a plastic bag, dollar store gel, and a little food coloring, you can create a squishy, mess-free writing surface. It’s sensory-friendly and so much fun — just remember to double-bag to avoid spills!And if you’re looking for a grab-and-go option, check out the Number Writing Workbook, designed for Kindergarten and rising First Grade students. Inside you’ll find simple tracing pages with visual guides, fun number mazes, and activities that combine tracing, coloring, and number recognition.Tune in to hear how small changes in materials can turn ordinary number practice into an exciting, multisensory experience your child will love!Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form!Blog PostNumber Writing WorkbookSandFree Games and Practice PagesLet's Connect!InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

In this episode, we explore how simple materials—like beads—can transform your math centers. Beads aren’t just colorful and fun; they’re powerful tools for counting collections, building fine motor skills, and creating patterns. We’ll dive into hands-on activities like Spin and Thread, DIY number racks, and engaging rekenrek games that help students strengthen their number sense and counting strategies. Whether you’re looking for easy prep ideas or creative ways to switch up your manipulatives, this episode is packed with practical tips you can use tomorrow. Tune in and bring new life to your math lessons!Helpful Links:Spin and SlideSpin and ThreadPick Build CoverRekenrek Mini BundleBlog PostHave a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form!Let's Connect! InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

In this quick episode, we are diving into 3 unconventional ways to increase engagement in math class!Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form! Helpful LinksSpin and ThreadGraphing ProjectAddition and Subtraction LessonsLet's Connect! InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

Today's episode comes from a listener email about getting buy-in from other teachers to give BTC a try!Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form! Helpful LinksK Task Bundle1st Grade Task Bundle2nd Grade Task BundleLet's Connect! Email me! lara@makingnumbersensemakesense.comInstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

Transforming your classroom into a Building Thinking Classroom is an exciting journey—but when it comes to consolidating learning and reflecting on problem-solving tasks, it can feel tricky with younger students. Between stamina struggles, time constraints, and building those metacognitive skills, what’s a teacher to do?In this episode, we’re tackling those challenges with fun and effective strategies to wrap up your thinking tasks:🌶️ Check Your Understanding Questions Use “mild,” “medium,” and “spicy” extension questions to give students a choice and push their thinking a little further.🎲 Games for Consolidation Turn reflection time into play with quick, themed games that tie into your tasks and can double as math centers later!📝 Meaningful Notes Help students record their learning in creative ways—like fill-in-the-blanks, circling items, or drawing—so they can revisit important strategies and takeaways later.💡 The 4-Quadrant Method Break down strategies and reflections into bite-sized pieces for young learners to understand and remember.Whether it’s through playful games, choice-driven questions, or creative note-taking, these approaches will keep your students engaged and make math reflection meaningful and manageable.Links & Resources: 👉 Blog Post👉 Grab Kindergarten, 1st Grade, or 2nd Grade Thinking Task Bundles here!Let's Connect! InstagramWebsiteYouTube ChannelLet’s make consolidation time just as exciting as problem-solving! 🎉

In this episode, we dive into how AI tools like ChatGPT can support teachers in crafting creative and engaging math tasks for Kindergarten, 1st-grade, and 2nd-grade students. While AI can’t replace the human magic you bring to your classroom, it can be a great brainstorming partner to help spark ideas, refine tasks, and create meaningful learning experiences.🔑 Key Takeaways:The Power of Specific PromptsA generic prompt like “Give me math tasks for counting” might not get the best results. Instead, provide details like grade level, standards, goals, and even a story context.Specificity helps AI provide deeper, more tailored responses.Ask for VariationsEncourage creativity by requesting multiple examples or exploring specific parts of a task.Need thin-slicing? AI can help you design tasks with increasing levels of difficulty, ensuring they meet your learning objectives.Engagement MattersBeyond math concepts, you can ask AI for fun and creative ideas, like coming up with 10 names for a fictional business that include puns or alliteration to match your theme.Adding a playful twist makes tasks more enjoyable for students!Check the WorkWhile AI can do a lot, it’s not perfect. Always double-check tasks for accuracy, especially as the math becomes more advanced or nuanced.Use AI as a starting point but refine the details yourself to ensure they’re just right for your students.💡 Final Thoughts: AI isn’t magic—it’s a tool. It won’t create slides, choose the perfect context, or capture your students’ unique needs. What turns an idea into a task your students love is you. Your creativity, expertise, and connection to your class are what make learning truly come alive.📚 Looking for Pre-Made Thinking Tasks? Check out our Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade bundles for ready-to-use ideas tailored to Building Thinking Classrooms!✨ Join the Conversation: Have you used AI to create math tasks? Share your experiences and tips with us on Instagram or lara@makingnumbersensemakesense.comHave a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form!

Looking for ways to make 2nd-grade math engaging and fun? In this episode, we’re sharing creative, story-based tasks that get your students excited about skip counting, place value, addition, subtraction, and more—all while building critical math skills!Here’s what we’re covering:🍊 Skip Counting at the Orange You Sweet Orange Factory—help your students count baskets of oranges in multiples of 5, 10, or 100.👾 Place Value Party Planning with the Aliens of Countaria—can your students decode the alien languages and save the “Outta This World” Block Party?🏴‍☠️ Treasure Hunt Adventures with Pirate Captain Redbeard—solve length problems to navigate the treasure map and uncover hidden treasures!🍫 Brownie Partitioning at the Brownie Bakery—partition rectangles into rows and columns to figure out brownie orders.📏 Measuring with the Cube Queen and Popsicle Stick King—compare measurements and decide when to use larger or smaller tools.🍦 Dreaming of Ice Cream with Whirl’d of Swirls—build rectangular arrays to keep up with growing ice cream orders.Links & Resources: 👉 Grab the full task bundle here! 👉 Check out the blog post here!Tune in and let’s make math an adventure! 🎉Let's Connect!InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

Today, we’re diving into something that every early elementary teacher has faced: coming up with the perfect math task—especially for those curious First Graders. Sometimes, it feels like the hardest part, right?Well, no worries, because we’ve got some exciting, hands-on ideas to spark engagement and build math confidence in your students! We’ll talk about:Blog Post📖 Story-Based Problems that bring math to life with fun narratives.🔢 FREE 100 Chart Mysteries where your students will outsmart the 100 Chart Thief.🍕 Pizza Fractions at the Dough-licious Pizzeria.📏 Nonstandard Measurement Adventures with the Cube Queen and Popsicle Stick King.🎡 Data and Graphing at the Laugh-A-Lot Carnival.🎲Skip Counting by 5 with dice🔺Composing Shapes with pattern blocks⭐Save ⏱️ and 💸 on the 1st Grade Task Bundle!⭐Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form!Let's Connect!InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

Sometimes coming up with a task for Kindergarten is the hardest part! In this episode, I share 7 tasks perfect for your kindergarten classroom in a building-thinking classrooms style! Dive into the world of playful, hands-on math tasks in this episode of Making Number Sense Make Sense! From counting and number writing with the mischievous dogs at Paw-some Pups Playhouse to solving addition problems with a broken cash register in "Cash Out," we’ll explore creative ways to engage young learners. Plus, hear how sorting toys, composing shapes, and comparing lengths bring math concepts to life through fun, story-driven activities. Whether you're teaching counting to 20, addition within 10 or 20, or tackling shape challenges, these tasks will have your students excited to learn and eager for more!Have a topic you want me to discuss? Fill out the Google Form!Helpful LinksKindergarten Task BundleKindergarten Task Bundle BlogCounting and Number Writing TaskCash Out Addition Within 10Sorting TaskComposing Shapes TaskComparing Longer and Shorter TaskLet's Connect!InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

The hardest part about Building Thinking Classrooms is finding the tasks when you want to spice it up a bit! In this episode, I'm walking you through how I approach coming up with ideas for tasks! Want the task I talked about? You can get the 2nd Grade Cash Out Task here! K and 1st Grade versions are below.Any podcast episodes you want me to make?Let me know in this Google Form!Helpful LinksBlog PostBTC Free TaskBTC Starter PackKindergarten Task Bundle1st Grade Task Bundle2nd Grade Task BundleLet's Connect!InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

Since you seemed to enjoy Math Games for Morning Meeting, this is a companion episode, not a math specific episode but helpful to create a respectful community so that all our academic work and be more successful! I'm going over packing up routines, closing circle routines, and how kids leave the classroom during dismissal.Any podcast episodes you want me to make? Let me know in this Google Form!Helpful LinksLet's Connect! InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel

Truth. Kids don't need addition and subtraction symbols to do addition and subtraction symbols. But when they do, give them a little…spice.Today we’re talking about how to give those squiggles meaning!Any podcast episodes you want me to make?Let me know in this Google Form!Helpful LinksBlog PostAddition and Subtraction LessonsLet's Connect!InstagramWebsiteYouTube Channel