The purpose of
this article is to put forward some ideas to help with the teaching
of addition.
Combining groups
of physical objects: for many students, this is their most basic experience of
adding up. This process normally involves collecting two sets of objects, then
counting how many objects there are in total. (For example, by building two
towers of cubes, and then counting up every single block.) For many, this
method can be too involved, particularly for those students who present
attention deficit disorder. If the child cannot hold their attention for the
whole of the activity, blocks will be put awry, towers will end up with
additional blocks, blocks will get mixed up, and at the end, the wrong answer is
arrived at. The length of the process means that if your child does not master
the concept quickly, they are not likely to make progress at all. In addition,
it is difficult to extend this process into a calculation that can be
approached mentally: for example, try to imagine two large sets of objects in
your head, and then count them all up. Even for adults, this is nearly
impossible.
Simple drawings:
jottings are a more useful alternative to the process described above. Write
out the addition problem on a sheet of paper, and next to the first number, jot
down the appropriate number of tallies (for instance, for the number 4, draw 4
tallies). Ask your student to predict how many tallies you will need to draw by
the other number in the problem. When they come to the correct answer, ask them
to draw the tallies. To finish with, ask how many tallies they have drawn
altogether. This method is a much easier way of bringing together 2 groups, is
less likely to be subject to mechanical error, and is better suited to students
with poor focus. It also encourages the child to associate between what the
written sum actually says, and why they are drawing a certain number of
tallies.
Counting on:
this is a technique based around your student’s capacity to say number names.
When your child has reached a stage where they know how to count to five, start
asking them questions like, “what number is 1 more than…” (eg. what comes after
2 when we count?) This is actually equivalent to answering an addition problem
of the type 2+1, but helps to connect the ideas of counting and addition, which
is very powerful. This technique gets your student ready to use number squares
and gives them the confidence to answer problems in their mind. The method can
also be made more difficult, by asking, “what number is 2 more than…” When your
child can confidently respond to such problems out loud, show them the question
written down, and explain that this is the same as the problem you had been
doing before. This will help the child to see addition and counting as
fundamentally related, and that this new problem is actually something they
have met before.
Playing board
games: this activity can be both a mathematical learning experience as well as
a pleasant pastime. Games that require a counter to be moved around a board do
a lot to encourage children to count on. If the board has numbers on it, the
child is able to see that the action is similar to counting out numbers aloud,
or using a number line. Make a point of remembering to draw attention to the
relationship between using board games and addition.
Learning number
facts: usually, we rely on number facts learnt by heart to help us answer
addition problems. In a nutshell, we do not have to figure out the answer to 7
and 10, we simply remember it. Having the ability to recall addition facts
allows us to tackle simple maths tasks confidently. Improve your student’s
knowledge of known number bonds by singing nursery songs that tell stories of
number. Take part in the game of matching pairs with the student, where the
point of the game is identify the location of the question (for instance, 7+8)
and the corresponding answer from a set of cards all turned face down. Create a
set of flashcards with simple addition facts written on them, look at the cards
one at a time, and ask the student for the answer, giving a good deal of
applause when they give the right answer. When they are confident, expand the
number of facts. Games will prevent your child perceiving addition as dull, and
will build confidence.
Addition
printables and worksheets: Practise makes perfect – and the right style of
practice also lends more confidence. By utilizing simple worksheets, aimed
towards your student’s ability and attention span, you are able to
significantly improve your child’s ability with addition, both orally and
written down. There are plenty of free internet sites that offer worksheets
that help with the teaching of adding up, but it does matter what adding up
worksheets you use. Ensure that the worksheets are aimed at the right level,
being neither too difficult nor too easy, and are of the correct length to
maintain the student’s interest. You should be attempting to present questions
that foster their recollection of number facts, along with a scattering of sums
involving some calculation. On the occasions that the student is successful,
use the opportunity to give them a lot of praise; when they make a mistake, do
not appear frustrated, but briefly explain their mistake. Using adding up
worksheets in a considered way can really boost your student’s ability.
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