What is Number of the Day?
Everything you need to know!
Number of the day is a daily routine that many teachers use in primary school. Each day, a different number is given to students. They use different methods to show, change, and represent this one number. This routine is typically used to build number sense and reinforce skills.
For example, students in lower elementary school may represent the number using base ten cubes, while students in upper elementary may represent the number by showing standard, expanded, and word form. Number of the day typically includes 5 to 8 activities like this. Scroll to the very bottom of this page to see my list of recommended skills to incorporate for number of the day based on grade level.
What is Number of the Day?
If you use a template for number of the day, the students will receive the same worksheet every day, or every day for a month if you would like to switch through skills. You can write the number you want them to use on the board, and the students can put it at the top of their paper for reference. Then, they do all the given activities using this number. The next day, all you need to do is write a different number on the board.
Using a template for number of the day can save you a lot of prep time. You don’t need to print a new worksheet every day or keep track of which number aligns with which day. All you need to do is print a bunch of the same worksheet and write the number on the board! If you’d like number of the day to have compounding skills, you can choose a set of templates that add different skills every month.
Different Ways to Incorporate Number of the Day
A Template
2. A Bulletin Board
Recently, I have seen a lot of teachers using bulletin boards for number of the day. This is such a fun way to incorporate number of the day! It opens up a lot of doors because you can easily incorporate manipulatives like popsicle sticks or base ten cubes. It also minimizes your prep time for number of the day. Once you have your bulletin board laminated and set up, you don’t need to prep anything, other than choosing a number! You can simply have students come up and fill in the different components in dry erase marker or count manipulatives.
If you have a bulletin board near the front of your classroom, I think this is a great idea! You can even make it match your classroom theme, and it is easy to incorporate into morning meeting. It also stays up in the room displayed all day, so students can reference it at any time. The only drawback I see in this method is that the students interact with the number less. Since you are doing this all together, you risk some students zoning out or not being engaged in the activity in the way they would be if they completed it as independent work.
3. A Daily Number of the Day Worksheet
Teachers can also have a planned set of number of the day worksheets that change every day, with skills changing each month. This is a good method because sets like these are created to compound naturally throughout the year without you needing to think through the progression.
The drawback with this method is that it takes the most prep time. You must print out each page for each day and keep the pages organized. However, a set like this ensures you are not repeating numbers, and you are following a natural progression. Although it is the most prep, it is also the most intentional version of number of the day.
When should teachers incorporate number of the day?
There are so many opportunities to incorporate number of the day. I’ve written some suggestions below, but definitely think about what works best for your students and with your schedule.
Morning Work
Morning work is a great time to incorporate either a worksheet or template version of number of the day. Students come in, and have the same routine every day, and know exactly what to do. The only drawback I see with this, is if you have students who are consistently late, they may miss this routine all together most days of the school year.
Morning Meeting
Morning meeting is a great time to incorporate number of the day if you are using a bulletin board. Students are already gathered together and are typically very focused in the morning. It is interactive, and you can incorporate manipulatives easily. Some 1st grade teachers use the day of the school year as their number of the day, which nicely combines a morning meeting routine and a math routine.
If you are interested in incorporating number of the day in your routine, check out my resources on TPT! I have some full year sets and templates that compound skills monthly.
My recommended Number of the day skills by grade
Kindergarten
* Trace and write the number
* Count objects (popsicle sticks, cubes)
* Represent with a ten frame
* Number recognition (Find the number)
* Before and after numbers
* Tally marks
* Draw dots or pictures to show the amount
* Color the matching number of shapes
* Show the number on fingers
* Identify if a group has more or less
* Use popsicle sticks to count: Rubber band them together when you have sets of 10.
* Ten frames
First Grade
* Base ten blocks (tens and ones)
* Tally marks
* Number words
* One more, one less
* Ten more, ten less
* Simple addition equations
* Simple subtraction equations
* Greater than, less than (>, <, =)
* Double the number
* Number bonds (part-part-whole)
* Ten frames
Second Grade
* Expanded form
* Odd or even
* 10 more and 10 less
* 100 more and 100 less
* Coin combinations (money)
* Number line placement
* Skip counting
* Addition with regrouping equal to the number
* Subtraction equations equal to the number
* Word form and standard form
Third Grade
* Multiplication equations
* Division equations
* Rounding to the nearest 10
* Rounding to the nearest 100
* Array drawings
* Word form and standard form
* Fraction partitioning
* Perimeter and area connections
* Elapsed time word problems using the number as minutes
* Multi-step addition and subtraction
Fourth Grade
* Place value identification (up to millions)
* Factor pairs
* Multiples
* Prime and composite numbers
* Rounding to the nearest thousand
* Rounding to the nearest ten-thousand
* Fraction and decimal conversion
* Angle measurement connections (degrees)
* Line plot frequency data
* Area and perimeter calculations
Fifth Grade
* Powers of ten (10^1, 10^2, 10^3)
* Decimal rounding to the tenths
* Decimal rounding to the hundredths
* Order of operations expressions (PEMDAS)
* Prime factorization (factor trees)
* Coordinate grid plotting
* Multiplying and dividing decimals
* Converting metric units
* Volume calculations using cubic units
* Simplifying fractions
At the Start of Math Class
The start of math class is a great time to incorporate number of the day. It gives you a moment to breathe and make sure you have everything prepared for your lesson. It also gives students a nice warm-up so they are ready to engage in math class.
As an Exit Ticket
Some teachers like to use number of the day as an exit ticket. I personally would not do number of the day as an exit ticket, but I want to mention it as an option anyway. When teaching Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 3rd grade, I found that in math class I always had a few students working right to the bell. This is totally fine, and I’m glad to see them engaged. However, these students would likely miss number of the day most days if it is done as an exit ticket. However, I know some teachers are more organized than I was! If you want to do number of the day as an exit ticket, I think it can work well with a system in place.
Homework
When I was teaching, I felt like I was so overwhelmed by homework each day! I was always throwing it all together, trying to make something useful and related to learning. If your district has homework, number of the day can be an easy addition to that homework to take some of the homework pressure off each day!