Counting Collections Survival Kit

I absolutely LOVE building number sense in the primary grades with Counting Collections. Counting Collections is a student-centered activity where students become aware of their mathematical thought processes and gain a strong sense of numerical relationships. It’s perfect for building number sense in preschool-2nd grade. Counting Collections can also be used as an intervention tool for 3rd-5th graders.

This is a collection of ALL the resources I could possibly think of that can support you in successfully implementing Counting Collections in your classroom or to support the efforts you've already put in place.

Formats Include:

Main resource in a PDF version

PDF with link to use recording sheets in Google Slides

Separate printable PDF document of recording sheets

This resource includes:

*A Q and A on the following:

Why counting collections?

How do I get started?

What are prepackaged collections?

What if I ask the "wrong" questions?

What if I feel like I'm not teaching? How can I resist helping my student get to the

right answer?

How do I push my students to try new strategies?

But I just don't have time...

How often should I do counting collections in my classroom?

When should my students begin recording their thinking?

How do I step back, but still support my students?

*Collection Ideas

*Sample Expectations Chart

*25 Sample Questions

*Two Anecdotal Notes Templates

1. Strengths/Coaching Points

2. Quick Check (with mathematical principles/strategies listed so you can quickly

check of what you student is already doing)/Strengths/Coaching Points

*4 Different Recording Sheets (one set for individual counting, one set for partner counting)

*Sentence Starters for oral and written explanations

Updated 08/2018

*Table of contents- added

*Two versions of a stamina chart-added

Updated 11/2018

*Collection ideas-updated

*Sample expectations chart-updated

*Implementation progress monitoring template- added

*Anecdotal notes templates- 3 versions added

Updated 12/2018

*Implementation progress monitoring updated

*Student reinforcements aligned with expectations added (2 versions)

*Self reflection rubric added, 0-3

*5 additional versions of recording sheet based on place value added

Updated 1/20/19

*Anecdotal Notes Template- new version added

Updated 2/17/19

*Creating successful partnerships- added

*Implementation progress monitoring- updated

*Teacher reflection- added

Recording Sheets INCLUDE:

*Space for students to draw models

*Space for students to write out their thinking

*Some versions of recording sheets including estimation and comparing

*Some versions of recording sheets include place value (expanded form, word form, # of tens/ones/hundreds).

Updated 1/22/20

*Effective feedback

*K-2 common core standards aligned with counting collections

*K-2 common core standards with examples of how to align questioning and anecdotal notes to specific standards

*Additional example of expectations chart

*Make 10 added to quick check

*Additional student reflection with 0-2 rubric

*Even and odd recording sheet added

*Questioning explained

*Procedural understanding vs conceptual

*4 levels of questioning to support English language learners and/or struggling learners

I hope these tools make you and your students feel successful when implementing counting collections! I show a lot of work around counting collections on my Instagram @theanchoringeducator. Follow me there for additional support! In addition, you can check out my Counting Collections blog post for more information!

Already implemented Counting Collections and just need the recording sheets? You can get only my recording sheets, here.

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Thank you!!

- Nahal