What Is On Cloud Nine?

 For individuals who get math, the language of numbers turns into imagery and they see mathematical relationships. 

  —Nanci Bell & Kimberly Tuley, On Cloud Nine: Visualizing and Verbalizing for Math

What Is On Cloud Nine?

On Cloud Nine® (OCNTM) is a program of instruction that uses concrete manipulatives, mental imagery, and language to establish comprehension of the essential mathematical concepts needed to reason and solve problems with numbers.

The On Cloud Nine program can be used for primary math instruction or as an intervention for students having math difficulties. Instruction starts with the most basic concepts of counting, adding, and subtracting, and progresses through computation with decimals and fractions.

How is On Cloud Nine unique?

On Cloud Nine helps the student integrate numerals, concrete experience, mental imagery, and language as a foundation for math comprehension and reasoning.

 Math is thinking with numbers, imagery, and language; reading is thinking with letters, imagery, and language. Both processes require the integration of language and imagery to assist in the foundational and application processes. 

  —Nanci Bell & Kimberly Tuley, On Cloud Nine

Can On Cloud Nine help your students?

On Cloud Nine is an effective math program to establish essential skills for most students.

If your student struggles with math and needs On Cloud Nine as an intervention math program, consider whether he or she might also have a broader difficulty with language comprehension. Does your student show signs of weak concept imagery? If so, V/V instruction should precede and accompany work in On Cloud Nine.

Some students have strong language comprehension but still show weakness in math. That's no shock — mathematics is a language of its own. On Cloud Nine can help them master it.

How does On Cloud Nine instruction help?

Develop the student's ability to…

  • Image numerals, numerical concepts, and the number line, and use imagery as a foundation for math reasoning.
  • Count by ones, twos, fives, and tens, and establish imagery for the base-ten math concept.
  • Add and subtract numerals 1–20 and beyond, with jumping-by-tens and carrying & borrowing.
  • Multiply and divide — and comprehend those functions.
  • Use language and logical steps to break down and solve word problems.
  • Comprehend decimals and fractions, and perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division computations with the same.

What does Gander Publishing offer?

We are the publisher and provider of all On Cloud Nine® products. Browse the selection on our website or contact us for more information.

Featured Products

  • OCN® Kit: Everything you need to implement the program
  • OCN® Manual: Presents theory and specific steps

Browse all On Cloud Nine® Products