The TechKnowledgy Conference in April 2019 introduced many creative technology-based strategies to help students become successful learners.  Beth Poss gave a wonderful session, Accessible Mathematics for Early Learners.  This session reviewed accessible math manipulatives to help students build a foundation for mathematical thinking.  One manipulative resource Beth introduced to the group was the Rekenrek.  A Rekenrek is an arithmetic or number rack that helps students of any age develop number sense.  This Classroom Rekenrek is 36″ tall allowing students to either stand or roll their wheelchairs up to it. It has two rows of different colored rings in 2 sets of 5.  Having the rings change colors after 5 rings helps students manipulate and visualize numbers, learn subitizing, understand benchmark numbers 5 and 10, and develop strategies for addition and subtraction.

To try a Rekenrek in your classroom, borrow a Classroom Rekenrek from our T-TAC ODU Library.

Find 15+ activities for using a Rekenrek with your students to teach foundational number sense concepts by borrowing Learning to Think Mathematically with the Rekenrek, also in our T-TAC ODU Library.

For information on how to incorporate manipulatives into instruction, watch this free webinar presented by ETA Hand 2 Mind:

Putting Manipulatives to Work, Part 1: Developing Number Sense K-5 with Cuisenaire Rods, Rekenreks and Place Value Chips.

For students with the use of manipulatives in their IEP, a Rekenrek can be an assistive technology tool to help them build a foundation for mathematical thinking.  As a High-Leverage Practice (HLP-19), Assistive Technology can be a benefit to students with disabilities to access their learning.

References

McLeskey, J., Barringer, M-D., Billingsley, B., Brownell, M., Jackson, D., Kennedy, M., Lewis, T., Maheady, L., Rodriguez, J., Scheeler, M.C., Winn, J., & Ziegler, D. (2017, January). High-leverage practices in special education. Arlington, VA: Council for Exceptional Children & CEEDAR Center.