Adding for first graders

Addition Strategies for First Graders

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Written by: Angie Olson

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First grade is the year that students are developing their foundational mathematical skills.  It is critical that when learning how to add numbers, our students are learning and understanding HOW to use a math algorithm to find an answer and also able to explain WHY they are doing so.  When I teach my students addition, they have a solid understanding of numbers and place value first.  Then I introduce different addition strategies.  After some practice with these strategies, the focus can shift to memorization of facts.  This, of course, comes later.

Some strategies that I like to use when teaching addition are:

(these are all covered in the First Grade Addition Interactive Notebook)
1.  Zero Facts
2.  Turn-Around Facts
3.  Counting On
4.  Doubles Facts
5.  Using Fingers
6.  Using Manipulatives
7.  Near Doubles
8.  Make a Ten
9.  Part Part Whole
10.  Combining Numbers
11.  Tally Marks
12.  Ten Frames
13.  Fingers

Download Addition Strategies Flip Flaps HERE

Another important component to teaching any new unit in math is to teach the vocabulary words that go with the concept.  This particular interactive math notebook activity includes 10 vocabulary words with definitions.  You could have your students glue their definitions under the vocabulary word or write the definition themselves.

Download Addition Vocabulary Flaps HERE

This First Grade Addition Strategies Notebook includes all of the strategies you read from above along with activities for practice of these addition strategies.  I believe most first graders benefit from using manipulatives when learning a math skill so these interactive notebook activities were designed to accompany some of the most basic math manipulatives such as dice, counters, dominoes, etc.

Download All Things 1st Grade Interactive Notebooks HERE

My favorite part about this First Grade Addition Strategies Notebook is the word problem story mats.  Word problems seem to always be a trickier concept for students to master so I knew that I wanted to find a way for students to practice this skill in a practical way.  That’s when these word problem story mats came to life!

I love that there are pictures provided for each story or I can use any math manipulative that I have laying around my classroom.  These word problem story mats can also be easily differentiated.  For the struggling student, I would use these as a part of their math center.  I would provide the story prompt and a limited number of counters.  I can also see this being used with at grade level students by having them work with a partner to determine a story, place counters on the story mat, and write the addition sentence to go with the word problem.  For the advanced first graders, I would provide the story mats and an increased number of counters.  Then they would work independently or with a partner to write a word problem of their own along with the addition sentence to go with the word problem.  The First Grade Addition Notebook includes 5 different stories with counters.

Download Word Problem Story Mats HERE

Feel free to use the image below to save this post to your Pinterest board.  Happy Teaching!  🙂

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6 Strategies to Teach Addition

First grade is a crucial point in a student’s mathematical journey. This is when they are developing those foundational skills that they will carry with them throughout grade levels. Our first-graders must know how to add numbers but also explain how they found their answers. To fully understand the concept of addition, our students need to have built their foundation of understanding numbers.

After they have developed those foundational skills, we can give them solid strategies to practice addition skills. Remember, when it comes to teaching strategies to your first-graders, the ultimate goal is to have our students gain the skills to compute math mentally. So, if you are looking for hands-on and interactive ways to teach your first-graders, then you’ve come to the right place.

Zero Facts

I know it sounds silly that I am mentioning this one, but your students must understand that zero added to a number doesn’t change it. This strategy is almost a check-off-the-box strategy. Make sure they know it and move on.

Ten Frames

Ten frames are another excellent tool in teaching addition to first-graders. Ten frames are another way to help students visually add numbers. I like using two separate ten frames with counters and having students practice addition problems—a great way to give students independent practice. Ten frames give students a hands-on approach to working with numbers. Within ten frames, you can teach your students about doubles, doubles+1, and make a ten.

Counting On

Counting on is a pretty simple concept, but it’s a crucial one for mental math. For instance, 4+6, tell your students to put 4 in their head and count up. You can use this with a number line for a visual component.

Turn Around Facts

Our first-graders must understand that flipping the addends doesn’t change the sum when it comes to addition. A great way to teach this concept is with counters, dominos, and worksheets. Once students grasp this concept, they can continue to move forward with more complex addition problems.

Manipulatives

Can you teach first-grade without manipulatives? The answer is no! Using manipulatives in the first-grade classroom is one of the most critical aspects of teaching addition. Use, counters, bears, buttons, beads, erasers, or anything else hanging out in the cabinet full of a ton of stuff.

Manipulatives help students explore using a hands-on learning method, and they can visually see the items to assist them in understanding mathematical concepts. And, students learn better when they are engaged with the material, and manipulatives increase engagement.

First-graders often struggle with understanding that they can combine two separate numbers to make a larger quantity. Counting with manipulatives is the perfect way to teach first-graders to add numbers together.

I love using manipulatives in my classroom because it’s a tangible way to understand mathematical concepts. While manipulatives aren’t a traditional strategy, they are an essential tool needed in many strategies.

The Extras

Again, these last two aren’t official mathematical strategies, but they are used to teach addition in my classroom. Most importantly, using games. Anything in game form is a win with my first-graders. I love using games because it allows my students to practice, work with partners, and apply their knowledge.

Lastly, I love using digital resources for all different avenues like independent work, early finisher activities, and homework. We accumulated a ton of resources from distance learning, so why not utilize them? Digital resources are just another hands-on way to apply and practice with addition.

Another tool that I have learned throughout the years is to make an anchor chart of the various methods that your students learn best from and hang it up where everyone can see it. Anchor charts are lifesavers and they are a vital tool for our young learners. 

There are many strategies in teaching addition, but it’s important to remember that we do not want our students to memorize these concepts. We want them to know and understand the strategies so they can successfully use and apply them. I have found a ton of value in teaching these strategies during small groups. While we review and practice whole group, I have found it way more beneficial to teach these strategies to a smaller group of students. What is your favorite strategy to teach addition?

Admission to first grade

Announcement for parents

Dear parents (legal representatives) of future first-graders!

October 5, at 18. 00 the first lesson will take place on ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM "School of the future first grader" .

School administration

2022-2023 academic year

How to apply for admission to Grade 1?

Author: Department of Education of the Administration of the City of Lesnoy Urban District -

Author: Department of Education of the Administration of the City of Lesnoy Urban District -

Dear parents!

For admission to the 1st grade of the 2022-2023 academic year, you can contact the Department of Education by calling the hotline 6-83-37 and 4-39-94.

From April 1 to April 14, 2022, by appointment, a personal reception of citizens on the admission of children to 1st grade is held. Phone for appointment 6-91-49, reception is conducted from 17:00.

School hotline: 6-52-34

Read more about admission to grade 1

date added: 2022-03-21

Acceptance of applications, documents and enrollment in grade 1

date added: 2022 -03-14

Resolution on approval of the List of assigned territories of the Lesnoy City urban district for municipal educational institutions

date of addition: 2022-03-04

On the direction of changes

Order on amendments to 458

Author: A.E. Teterin, director of MAOU secondary school No. 72 -

From April 1, 2022, will begin accepting applications for enrolling a child in 1st grade and documents for minors, living in the territory assigned to the institution .

Decree on amendments to the administrative regulations for the provision by institutions under the jurisdiction of the municipal state institution "Department of Education of the Administration of the City of Lesnoy" urban district, the municipal service "Acceptance of applications and enrollment in the municipal educational institution of the city district" City of Lesnoy ", approved by the decision of the administration urban district "City of Lesnoy" dated 01. 03.2021 No. 184

As of 07/01/2022, there are 6 vacant places in the 1st grade in MAOU secondary school No. 72 for the 2022-2023 year of study

Number of places in 1 classes of 2022-2023 academic year 75 Total number of applications received, of which: 77 - preemptive 22 - with an extraordinary right (valid only for schools with boarding schools 0 - with priority right 15 - for the assigned territory 40

Application for the 1st class from 04/01/2022