Hands-On Math: Number Rack | Rekenrek Course

See Numbers Differently: A Hands-On Approach to Building Early Number Sense

Are your students still counting one-by-one for even the simplest problems? It’s time to help them see numbers, not just count them!

The number rack (also known as a rekenrek) is a simple, powerful tool that helps students move from counting to reasoning. With its structure of grouped red and white beads, students can visualize numbers in fives and tens, supporting fluency, flexibility, and confidence in their mathematical thinking.

This short, focused microcourse is designed for teachers who want to build number sense through meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. You’ll explore practical classroom strategies that help students internalize number relationships, develop mental math skills, and connect visual models to abstract concepts.

Objectives

• Explore how to model addition and subtraction with a number rack.
• Explore strategies for using the number rack beyond addition and subtraction.

Target Audience:

• Math Teachers and Coaches

Format:

• Self-paced eLearning course with interactive knowledge checks and real-world scenarios.
• The estimated time to take the course is 15 minutes.
• Downloadable Lesson plans to support student understanding of number patterns and decompositions with number racks geared towards 1st grade, and can be adjusted to meet the needs of your students.
• A completion certificate is available after completing the course.