8 Ways to Make a Rekenrek

I”l be honest, these are new to me. I have seen them, but didn’t know what they were for nor how to use them. The math specialist at the school where I teach showed them to us in relation to some Math Talks she would like to do with the students next year. My teaching partner and I decided that we would like our students to create their own rekenrek to use in class. So, I took it upon myself to search out different ideas and then come up with the best one for our kiddos.

Before I begin, what is a rekenrek? A rekenrek or arithmetic rack is tool used to support the natural development of number sense in young children. A rekenrek has either 2 rows of 10 beads each or 10 row of 10 beads each. Each row has 5 red and 5 white beads. This tool allow students to make mental images of numbers. For more information, click here.

From Math Coach’s Corner

A simple rekenrek made from foam, pipe cleaners and pony beads

From Bookish Ways in Math and Science

A rekenrek from cardboard, pipe cleaners and pony beads.

From Kathy Griffin’s Teaching Strategies

A rekenrek made from paint sticks, pipe cleaners and biggie beads.

From The Reading Corner

A rekenrek made from plastic baskets, pipe cleaners and pony beads.

From Kindergals

This rekenrek is made from PVC pipes and pool noodles.

From Mrs. T.’s First Grade

Made from wood, string and pony beads.

From Mrs. Davis Digs Kindergarten

This one is made from a carpet square, craft lace and beads.

So after all this research, what did I come up with?

From Boy Mama Teacher Mama

Our rekenrek is made from popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and pony beads.

Stay tuned for a post that shares how we created this rekenrek!

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