Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Using objects
• Method 2 of 4: Arithmetic language and "sum relationships"
• Method 3 of 4: Learn basic facts
• Method 4 of 4: Using issues

Helping your child learn to add will prepare him or her well for the lessons at school. Most schools have standards such that all first graders should be able to do addition and subtraction up to 20. Before children can master addition and subtraction, however, they will need to have a good understanding of what "addition" means. There are a variety of learning resources to effectively help your child or your class learn to add so that it is fun too.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Using objects

1. Use objects to show how addition works. Children respond well to visual aids to understand counting basics. You can use any object that is easy to handle, from beads and blocks to coins. Start with a small number of objects and use various tactics to show relationships between numbers:
   • Give the child two groups of objects - such as a group of two blocks and a group of three blocks. Have the child count the number of blocks in each group.
   • Ask the child to put these two groups of objects together and count the total number of blocks. Explain that he or she has "added" these groups.
   • Give a certain number of items - for example, six coins - and ask your child how many ways they can distribute the coins among six groups. For example, the child can make a group of five coins and a group of one.
   • Demonstrate how to "add" a group of objects by stacking. For example, start with a stack of three coins and add two more to the stack. Ask your child to count how many coins are now in the stack.
2. Create groups of children so they can "count" themselves. In a classroom setting, tap into young children's need to move by making each other count. Use tactics similar to those you would use with items, and group groups of students together and let them count themselves in different combinations. (Stacking students is not recommended!)
3. Consider letting children make their own objects. Use modeling clay to make objects, or combine your addition lesson with an art lesson by making various paper shapes.
4. Use game pieces in new ways to create counting games. Dice easily lend themselves to first counting games. Have the students roll two dice and practice adding up the numbers to be rolled. You can also work with playing cards or dominoes.
   • When working with students with varying degrees of skill in counting, you can adapt this game to create an extra challenge for fast learners. Instruct them to add up the results of three or more dice or playing cards.
5. Count with coins. Use money to practice adding units, fives, tens, and even intervals of 25. This tactic teaches money skills in addition to counting skills, and has the added benefit of demonstrating the practical benefits of counting.

Method 2 of 4: Arithmetic language and "sum relationships"

1. Familiarize children with addition symbols. Teach them the meaning of the symbols "+" and "=". Then help them write simple "math sentences", such as "3 + 2 = 5".
   • Start with horizontal sums. Young children are already learning that they are expected to write words and sentences "over" the paper. Using math sentences according to a similar practice will then be less confusing. Once children have mastered this concept, you can begin to introduce the concept of vertical sums.
2. Teach children words such as "add up". Introduce terms such as "added together", "added", "total" and "sum" that often indicate that a child should add two or more numbers together.
3. Use "sum relationships" to help children understand sum relationships. Sum relations show how the different numbers in an addition relate to each other. Sum relationships are often about both addition and subtraction, to help students understand the inverse relationship between these two skills. The integers of 4, 5, and 9, for example, are a "sum relationship," because 4 + 5 = 9; 5 + 4 = 9; 9-4 = 5; and 9-5 = 4.
   • Use milk cartons to illustrate "sum relationships." Wrap milk cartons in paper or an easy-to-clean surface if you would like to reuse the cartons. Have students list the integers of a sum relationship on the top of the cardboard - for example, 4, 5, and 9. Then have them write each number of such a sum relationship on each of the four sides of the box.

Method 3 of 4: Learn basic facts

1. Teach children to count in "bigger steps". Teach them to count in pairs, fifties and tens to 100 to improve your child's understanding of number relationships and provide easy reference points.
2. Encourage children to memorize "doubles". "Doubles" are sum relationships such as "3 + 3 = 6" or "8 + 8 = 16". Again, these facts provide an easy reference as the students learn to add. A child who automatically knows that "8 + 8 = 16", for example, can more easily figure out the sum of "8 + 9" by simply adding 1 to the total.
3. Use flash cards to encourage memorization. Group cards by sum relationship to emphasize the relationships between these numbers. While students should be able to recognize how numbers interact, memorizing basic math facts will provide an additional foundation for moving on to more complex sums.

Method 4 of 4: Using issues

1. Practice different types of problems. While some students find issues more complex, others will thrive when they gain a better understanding of how addition is applied in the real world. Help your child recognize three different situations that require addition:
   • Sums with an "unknown result" - For example: if Merel has two cars and gets three more on her birthday, how many cars does she have in total?
   • Sums with an "unknown change" - For example, if "Merel has two cars and five cars after her birthday, how many cars did she get before her birthday?
   • Sums with an "unknown starting point" - For example, if Merel gets three cars for her birthday and now has five, how many cars did she have to start with?
2. Teach children to recognize "merge," "part-part-whole," and "compare" problems. Real world situations involve different parameters. Understanding how these work will help your child develop tools to solve problems.
   • "Merge" problems refer to the growth of a certain amount. For example, if Elizabeth bakes three cakes and Sara bakes six more, how many cakes are there overall? "Merge" problems can also ask students to solve an unknown change or starting numbers - for example, if Elizabeth bakes three cakes and Elizabeth and Sara make nine cakes together, how many cakes did Sara bake?
   • "Part-part-whole" problems are about adding two fixed numbers. For example, if there are 12 girls in the class and 10 boys, how many students are there in total in the class?
   • "Compare" statements refer to an unknown in a set of compared values. For example, if Geert has seven cookies and he has three more cookies than Laura, how many cookies does Laura have?
3. Use books that teach addition concepts. Children who enjoy reading and writing can especially benefit from books that deal with addition themes. Research "Learning to Count with Stories" online for an overview of helpful literature compiled by teachers.