Subtracting from Teen Numbers

When you are getting ready to begin Goal 8 Subtraction, you may be wondering how you can help your students move beyond counting back or counting up to solve these problems using strategies based on properties of operations. I've made a Subtracting from Teen Numbers screencast that shares four different strategies that do just this. The screencast also includes a number talk approach that will provide students with time and tools to generate some or many of these strategies using logic and visuals. These four strategies will also be very relevant to Goal 9 subtraction.

You may also find you want to try this approach with Goal 5 subtraction. Relating subtraction to addition and Take from Ten may be particularly helpful for Goal 5.

I hope you and your students enjoy!

At your request ... Daily Activity Progressions

Many teachers have told me that they really want to focus on basic facts fluency for 5 to 10 minutes each day, but they have difficulty finding the time to plan those activities. So I've put together a set of sample  activities for each of the goals for addition/subtraction and also for multiplication/division. 

The activities for each goal are numbered sequentially, working first on concept building with mostly concrete activities, then shifting to strategies and patterns using visual representations, and finally moving in the third column to abstract practice. You'll find the blackline masters referenced in the activities following each progression. 

FactsWise Addition/Subtraction Daily Activity Progressions (Goals 1 - 9)

          

FactsWise Multiplication/Division Daily Activity Progressions (Goals 1 - 8)

  

I hope you find these resources helpful ... and please post here to share what you learn as you try them out with students! 

Note: If you have attended a workshop in the past year, you probably recorded the password for the online FactsWise resources in your notebook. If you attended an earlier workshop, feel free to contact me at ellipsismath@gmail.com to get the password. If you've not been able to attend a FactsWise workshop, you can purchase the activity progressions at Teachers Pay Teachers: Addition/Subtraction and Multiplication/Division. 

Also, if you'd like more more information about the entire FactsWise program, you can find the 2016 FactsWise Resource Books at Teachers Pay Teachers: Addition/Subtraction and Multiplication/Division.

3 or 4 in a Row Game Directions - Multiplication/Division

If you've been looking for directions for the 3-in-a-Row games for each Multiplication/Division Goal, I've put together a video that explains them while showing a sample game being played. Following the 3-in-a-Row game, I've also included directions for the two different variations on the 4-in-a-Row games that are cumulative reviews after Goal 5 and Goal 8. I hope you and your students enjoy playing these games during the abstract practice phases of the different goals!

Sample Planning Calendars

After talking with a number of teachers, I've put together some sample planning calendars for developing basic facts fluency across your school year. Hope they're helpful -- as samples!

New Multiplication/Division Goal-by-Goal Resource File

At the request of a number of teachers, I have just put together a 353-page pdf file that organizes, for each goal, the directions for activities, blackline masters for activities and games, the pairs practice tents, flashcards, assessment pages, and other materials. I have designed this FactsWise Multiplication/Division Goal-by-Goal Resource File  to be used as a companion to the FactsWise Resource Book for Multiplication/Division.

I have posted this file on Teachers Pay Teachers for just $5.00 until the end of February. After that I'll place a more accurate price on it.

If you find this way of organizing all of the FactsWise multiplication and division resources helpful, I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to post your comments on this blog!

New FactsWise Goal-by-Goal Resource File Available

At the request of a number of teachers, I have just put together a 338-page pdf file that organizes for each goal the directions for activities, blackline masters for activities and games, the pairs practice tents, flashcards, assessment pages, and other materials. I have designed this FactsWise Goal-by-Goal Resource File to be used as a companion to the FactsWise Resource Book.

I have posted this file on Teachers Pay Teachers for just $5.00 until the end of February. After that I'll place a more accurate price on it.

If you find this way of organizing all of the FactsWise addition and subtraction resources helpful, I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to post your comments on this blog!

Counting Comes First!

Before students can develop part-whole thinking, they need to understand how our numbers work and become confident counters.  Here are a series of activities that can help students develop their understanding and fluency with counting.

The key idea behind all of these activities is the connection between concrete objects and/or representations and counting. I hope you and any of your students that need support with counting will enjoy these interactive activities!