From: Gail (for Teacher2Teacher Service)
Date: May 22, 1999 at 22:52:07
Subject: Re: Teaching basic addition and subtraction

Number lines are really not the same as manipulatives.  They are pretty
abstract ways to present numbers.  You didn't say what it is your daughter is
doing with the numbers on the number line.

Personally, I agree with you that counting on fingers isn't an awful way for
students to begin exploring number sense.  Using manipulatives is a great aid
for helping students, too.  I have a friend who teaches primary children.
She tells them they have their own personal set of manipulatives they carry
around with them all day long -- their fingers!

I am wondering if there are more areas of weakness in your daughter's  "bag
of tricks" for using numbers, or if this is the only one.  I would suggest
you make an appointment to visit with the teacher, to show her what you have
been doing at home, so the two of you can decide how her performance at home
ties in with what she is doing at school.

 -Gail, for the Teacher2Teacher service

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