What are your strategies for addition?

manipulatives

using memory

using hands

calculator

hundred square

We had a class discussion about how the students approach addition. It was a great time to share ideas and strategies. We also talked about what strategy would be useful for different levels of addition. For example, if you are adding single digit numbers, you could use memory or adding with your hands. If you are adding larger numbers, you could use a calculator or the hundred square.

The learning experience was introduced to help students begin to realize that you can use different methods toward finding the same answer. When your child is tackling a problem at home, be sure to encourage her to think of a variety of strategies and choose the best one for that situation.

Below is the list of strategies toward addition that the students have thought of so far. Are we missing any important ones? Are there any others that work for you?

• counting on fingers

• ___ in my head and ___ on my hand

• tally

• hundred square

• calculator

• memory

• coins, cubes (manipulatives)

• number cards