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!
Get Free Teaching Resources!
Join me for weekly classroom updates and free resources that are just-right for your guided math classroom!
Brilliant! 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!
Mind blown!! I Just laminated these and questioned how I was going to store them. Thanks for the great tip 🙂
This 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?
The 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.
I 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.
Are you still selling these number lines? Amazon says they're unavailable
Super smart! Thanks for the idea.
How did you laminate the number lines? Did you have to use a bigger laminating machine?