Readiness Skills for Teaching Addition and Subtraction

This post is again copied from an older post because, I cannot say this enough times, before we ask children to learn how to add or subtract, we need to make sure they have an understanding of number sense.

A few years ago, a young teacher told me that her student could show three objects + four objects, and count the objects correctly to get a total of seven, but she said the child did not know the numerals. The child did not know the number symbol for seven is 7.

So, please make sure your students have prerequisite skills in place before you ask them to do new tasks.

1. Children need to be able to count to at least 20.

2. Children need to be able to recognize the the numerals 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.

3. Children need to be able to count a given number of objects (to at least 20) correctly.

4. Children need to be able to match up the number with those counted. *** represented by a number 3.

5. Using some counters or objects, children need to be able to show what a number means. The number, 6, means six objects.

5. Children need to be able to orally identify a written number. See a 12, and name it as twelve.

6. Children need to be able to write or type the numbers 1-20.

After these prerequisites, or readiness skills, are in place, then teach what addition and subtraction mean.

Teach a way to remember the answers to the math facts. Use strategies and tricks, and give children plenty of written practice with the facts they learned.

Finally, when teaching lessons with word math or story problems, use math facts that are already mastered or known.

Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction provides record-keeping pages, worksheets to introduce math fact strategies, and lots of practice and review pages. Instructions on how to use the book, answers, and a certificate of mastery are also included. This book is for students of all ages! If you know students who need to memorize math facts, check out the sample pages at the website. http://www.TwoPlusTwoIsNotFive.com

Look also for tips to teach math facts, and some thoughts on what testing math facts in a minute really test. You can also find out about purchasing books from the website.