Entering the 2nd quarter of the year, we are knee-deep in addition and subtraction. We’ve spent time learning about dozens of different strategies for solving math problems – visualizing, drawing, crossing out, manipulatives, and one of our favorites – number lines!
While I love that my friends want to use the number line to help them, I struggled with storing them. They were always stored in a haphazard pile in which the edges never met and a stray number line lay on the floor. That’s when inspiration hit (i.e. I found an extra Command Hook in my desk.).
After laminating and cutting my number lines
to the side of our technology station in the front of the room.
With a hole in them, the number lines are ready to hang. There you go! A simple, simple solution for storing number lines. Hanging number lines give students easy access to them and keeps them confined to one place in your classroom. Plus, storing number lines by hanging them is simple enough that students can put them back when they finishing using them.
So, what do you think? How do you store your number lines? I’d love to hear what works for you!
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Kathie @Tried and True Teaching Tools says
October 27, 2014 at 3:12 amBrilliant! You're a master at organization! I've had my number lines crammed in a cupboard but then I can never find the ones I need in order! Thanks!
Emily W. says
October 29, 2014 at 2:17 amMind blown!! I Just laminated these and questioned how I was going to store them. Thanks for the great tip 🙂
Michael Maloney says
January 9, 2015 at 3:10 amThis might be a little idiotic question, but how do number lines work? I love the storage idea for them, but I don't see what I'm supposed to do with them?
Tracy Buaron says
August 23, 2015 at 1:04 amThe students can use a dry erase marker to "jump" forward for addition or back for subtraction. They can also move a penny, colored chip, or other manipulative.
Tracy Buaron says
August 23, 2015 at 1:06 amI used the same idea to hang my blank sentence strips in the storage closet. They were always getting bent before, but now they are straight. In one of my classes, I sewed a bag for them, but that was not necessary. The only benefit of the bag was there was no holes in the strips.
Unknown says
February 23, 2016 at 3:09 amAre you still selling these number lines? Amazon says they're unavailable