It’s pretty common to hear that students struggle with higher-level math—things like algebra or calculus—because they missed out on some of the basics. One of the most important of these basics is something called number sense. Without strong number sense, students can feel lost when they hit more advanced concepts later on. So what exactly is number sense, and why does it matter so much?
What Is Number Sense?
Number sense is the ability to break numbers apart and understand how they’re made up of smaller parts. It’s the foundation for skills like quick calculations, factoring, and solving equations. For instance, take the number 25. You can think of it as 20 + 5 or 5 × 5. Students with strong number sense don’t just see a number—they see how it’s built, and this helps them in everything from simple math to more complex problems.
When students struggle with math, it’s often because they don’t truly understand how numbers work or what they represent. To help build this understanding early on, we offer resources like our free Place Value Charts. These tools lay the groundwork for a strong number sense.
Introducing Number Bonds
Once students get the hang of place value, the next step is working with number bonds These are visual tools that show how numbers can be split apart or combined. It might sound technical, but it’s just about helping students see how numbers relate to each other in different ways.
Math isn’t just about going one way—you need to be able to go forward and backward. For example, addition and subtraction are connected, just like multiplication and division. Number bonds help make these relationships more obvious.
Think about it like this: if you’re cold, you put on a jacket. If you’re hot, you take it off. It’s a simple, natural process. But in math, these forward and backward connections aren’t always so clear to students. Number bonds give them the practice they need to see these patterns and make the connections stick.
Why Practice Number Bonds?
Through practice, number bonds help students build these mental connections. And it’s not just about the basics—once students get this core concept, they can use it for tougher topics like exponents, radicals, and even logarithms. It’s all about breaking a big problem into smaller pieces, then putting them back together.
We offer a range of activities focused on number bonds to strengthen these skills. These activities simplify math by taking students back to the basics, making even complex problems feel more manageable. With regular practice, students also get better at tackling word problems, as they learn to work forward and backward to find unknown values. Try our free Number Bonds Activities to get your child started on building this key skill today!
Building Strong Foundations for the Future
At Tampa Bay Test Prep, we understand how important it is for students to develop these foundational skills early. By starting with a strong number sense and mastering number bonds, students build pattern recognition and problem-solving abilities. They’ll also feel more confident handling advanced math because they have a solid understanding of the basics.
Start early and set your child up for success by trying both our free Place Value Charts and Number Bonds Activities today. These activities help them see the patterns in math from the start, making future concepts much easier to handle.
We hope you enjoy our freebies!
