The Magic of Bead Strings
Observing Ms. Smith’s Kindergarten Classroom at Marysville School District, Cascade Elementary: End of the 2024-25 School Year.
As the school year drew to a close, we were delighted to observe Ms. Smith’s Kindergarten classroom at Cascade Elementary. These energetic and curious six-year-olds have spent the year growing, learning, and developing foundational math skills that will serve them for years to come.
The Magic of Bead Strings: A highlight of Ms. Smith’s math instruction is the use of bead strings—manageable manipulatives that both teachers and students love. These bead strings have been carefully crafted and refined over the years to be just right for young learners. As Mrs. Knokey puts it, “They are Math Magic! The kids ask to get their bead strings.”
Building Number Sense and Flexibility
Throughout the year, students have used bead strings to become nimble and composite with numbers. The bead strings are color coded, easy to use, and travel with students all over the classroom. This accessibility means students don’t need to rely on counting with their fingers to build numbers—they “just know it.” This is what we call composite understanding.
Now, as the year ends, Ms. Smith challenges her students with verbal math tasks—without the bead strings in hand. She asks questions about totals, and the students respond confidently. Thanks to the color coding and daily practice, they can instantly recall combinations like “what goes with 4 to make 10” without counting fingers or searching for objects. This is compressed learning in action.
From Support to Independence
At the start of Kindergarten, bead strings serve as a crucial support, helping students build compressed learning. Through daily exposure to combinations like 4+6=10, and with the help of color coding, students move beyond simple counting. The color coding encourages them to chunk numbers, which is the most efficient way to develop flexible mental math skills.
By the end of the year, Ms. Smith’s students have transitioned from relying on manipulatives to demonstrating true number sense and mental math agility. The bead strings have done their job—helping these young learners become confident, capable mathematicians.
In Summary
Ms. Smith’s Kindergarten classroom is a wonderful example of how thoughtfully designed tools and consistent practice can transform early math learning. The bead strings, with their careful design and color coding, have empowered students to move from counting to knowing—setting them up for future success in mathematics.
