Getting Organized

Each child needs to:

1. Understand the concept of addition and subtraction

2. Know how to solve unfamiliar addition and subtraction problems

3. Know the pre-facts with automaticity: +-0, +-1, doubles to 10, a number away from itself

4. Have a firm understanding of what a number family is

5. Know how to find the partners for a given number

6. Know how to generate the addition and subtraction facts for the partners in a family

7. Know how to use the Tub activities

8. Know how to organize materials and how to turn in completed work


The Teacher needs to:

1. Organize materials:

  • Laminate and sort activity cards into tubs (1 tub for each number 5-16 and 1 tub for 17 and 18 to share). Most activity cards can be placed into plastic sleeves instead of laminating.  Costco sells plastic sleeves in a box of 200 for about $10.00.  $1.00 dishpans can serve as the tubs.  I prefer to use the stacking drawers available at Costco and office supply stores for my tubs. Label the front of each tub with the appropriate number.
  • Duplicate tests, worksheets and booklet papers. I have a box for the tests. I duplicate the worksheets for the year and keep them in a filing cabinet ready to go. Booklet papers are stored in the math center/area.
  • You may want to run extra gameboards and tile cards for the lower numbers. Students will be crowded on 5’s and 6’s in the beginning. You can run on regular paper and put into plastic sleeves.

2.  Plan lessons for students to prepare them for Number Families.  See: "What each student needs to know..." (above)

3. Determine your record keeping system.

4. Decide how the tubs will work in your classroom. You should start with 20 to 30 minute blocks with all children working on their packet or in the tubs. You are then free to help the children learn the whole system. After the kids are well established, you can use the tubs as a part of a rotation or as a center.

5. Pre-test the kids to place into the appropriate number family. Give test 5, allowing 1 minute or 1 minute 15 seconds, depending on the small motor skills of your students. Continue testing (6,7,8...) students who pass tests with a score of 18 or higher correct.