Playdates

Playdate focus

Practice adding by using the idea of Counting On. The term Counting On means that, if you count two groups, such as 4 and 3, you start your counting at 4 rather than 1.

Storybook properties

This has lots of shapes and groupings of objects.

Activities properties

These involve addition and subtraction. Use the “Numbered” version of Dots and Boxes with small numbers to practice addition.

Gradual change

As your child develops skill with small adding and subtracting problems, gradually shift over to doing more of these calculations mentally. Don’t be in a hurry to memorize. This time spent calculating answers by seeing the relationships between numbers will pay off handsomely in terms of a much better feel and understanding of numbers. If your child masters these facts by grinding through repeated drills with flash cards, you will have thrown away this important opportunity.

Counting on

Use 6 + 3 as an example of adding by Counting On.

Initially, your child will want to do this using their fingers, and that is fine. Say “6” and have a closed fist to indicate 0. Next, count up “7, 8, 9” and raise one finger with each number. Stop at 9, when three fingers have been raised.

Over time, using fingers with small addition problems will become less necessary. Your child will start to mentally see the change of 3 in going from 6 to 9, and will no longer need to use fingers – just as they no longer need fingers for adding 1 or 2.

Start from the larger number

With experience, your child will start to realize that it is easier and faster to start with the larger of the two numbers. For example, it is easier to do 3 + 6 as 6 Counted On with 3 more than it is do it as 3 Counted On with 6 more. Part of making this choice is realizing that the results of 3 + 6 and 6 + 3 are the same. This important observation will mean learning only about half as many addition facts!