Building the Number Chart to 50

Today students worked to put together a number chart from 1 to 100.  Each student had about 3 numbers to put in place.  The tricky part was that we didn't start with 1 this time!  I put the number 28 down as a starting point and the kids had to use what they know about number patterns to get the other numbers into place!  Here is what that looked like:

Right now in math we are working on number concepts to 50.  (We will go higher later in the year.)  Students are reading and writing numbers, counting, building numbers, working on patterns, finding combinations that make a number and building their understanding of numbers.  At home you can have your child help count out things (spoons, game pieces, socks, books, etc.) and practice reading numbers that come up in your day.  Some kids can count quite high by rote, but don't match each number to each object when they say it.  They need to practice pointing to each object as they count and moving the objects as they count them.  We are also laying some groundwork for solving problems later in the year, by making combinations. For example, students can use objects to find out that 4 and 2 make 6, and 3 and 3 make 6.  You can easily practice this at home by making up your own "math stories" about things you do.  Just talk about things you are doing:  We are getting 2 carrots and 3 tomatoes.  That is 5 vegetables in all. Or: We had 6 yogurts.  Then we ate 2 at breakfast.  Now there are 4 yogurts left.  Or:  There are 4 red cars and 3 blue cars.  There is 1 more red car than blue.  Or: We have 2 blue socks and 2 red socks and 2 white socks.  That makes 6 socks in all.  We are not asking the questions yet...  Just talking about numbers when we combine things or separate things or compare how much more or less.