Exploring Ten Frames

To help me remember things that I have learned and why I created certain products, I decided to write some more informational posts.

What is a Ten Frame?

Ten Frames are graphic tools that let you "see" numbers. Researcher Jon Van de Walle recommends that all students have a strong foundation in understanding 10s and 1s. This is the beginning of place value and being able to do mental math.

Without this foundational understanding, students will struggle with basic operations and math in general. If you skip over this foundation and rush the student onto the next thing, Van de Walle says you have a great chance of confusing your student.

How to use

Ten frames can be used as another way to model the number of wins and losses. Use the Overhead Ten Frame or draw a ten frame on the blackboard. Ask students to tell you how many marks are in a bundle on a tally chart. [5] Ask what each bundle of tallies will look like on the ten frame. [One row.] What will 2 bundles look like on a ten frame? [Two rows.]

An important concept for kinders to master is 5 and 10 as a group that also contains 5 or 10 individual items. Show students that if there is one bundle, they automatically would place 5 circles on their ten frame. The extras would go on the next row. Show how easy it is to see how many more you would need to make a bundle on the tally chart.

Wins:

Losses:

Students could practice modeling wins and losses on the Ten Frame Work Mat by drawing circles or using counters. This can be used as a formative assessment.

Common Core Standards for Ten Frames

Kindergarten 

CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.A.1 Count to 100 by ones and by tens.

CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.A.2 Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1).

CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.A.3 Write numbers from 0 to 20. Represent a number of objects with a written numeral 0-20 (with 0 representing a count of no objects).

CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.4 Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.

First Grade 

CCSS.Math.Content.1.NBT.C.4 Add within 100, including adding a two-digit number and a one-digit number, and adding a two-digit number and a multiple of 10, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used. Understand that in adding two-digit numbers, one adds tens and tens, ones and ones; and sometimes it is necessary to compose a ten. 

That's a lot of standards! 

I have to admit, I had to go and research TEN FRAMES! I usually teach upper elementary. They are past the ten frames stage. However, after all of this.... I have some upper elementary review coming out soon using ten frames. I can't wait to share it with all of you!

I found games, products, videos, smart board presentations, and freebies galore. Just take a look at my pinterest board all about ten frames! I also found this powerpoint on using ten frames as an intervention.

I would love to add your ten frame ideas to my board!! Just leave me a comment with a link to your information on ten frames and I will add it in.