Mastering addition facts: 1st Grade worksheets and strategies

Before your child can memorize addition facts, they need to understand the concept of addition and how it works. Addition is combining two or more groups of objects or numbers to get a total amount. For example, if you have 3 apples and 4 oranges, add them together to get 7 fruits.

To help your child understand the concept of addition, you can use concrete objects or manipulatives, such as counters, blocks, beads, or coins. You can also use pictures or drawings to represent the objects or numbers. For example;

You can show your child how to add 2 + 3 using counters or dots:     o o + o o o = o o o o o

You can also use stories or word problems to introduce the concept of addition. For example, you can say:

"Anna has 2 dolls, and Ben has 3 dolls. How many dolls do they have together?" You can then use objects or pictures to model the problem and find the answer.

Once your child understands the concept of addition, they can start memorizing basic addition facts. Memorizing basic addition facts is an essential skill for first graders to master.

One effective strategy is to use flashcards with addition facts written on them. Start with the more accessible facts, such as 0+1 or 1+1, and gradually work up to more difficult ones.

Another strategy is to use games and activities to make learning fun, such as playing addition bingo or using a number line to practice adding. With consistent practice and patience, your child will soon be able to recall addition facts quickly and accurately.

Here are some examples of how to teach addition facts using different strategies:

One of the best ways to teach addition facts is to use strategies that appeal to different learning styles. Some of the most common strategies are:

• Counting on: This is when you start with one number and count up to find the sum. For example, to add 3 + 4, start with 3 and count on 4 more: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

  This strategy is suitable for beginners who are still learning the number sequence.

• Making ten: This is when you use the fact that 10 is a friendly number that can be easily split into two parts. For example, to add 8 + 5, you can make a ten by taking 2 from 5 and adding it to 8. Then you have 10 + 3, which is easier to add.

  This strategy is suitable for developing number sense and mental math skills.

• Using doubles: This is when you use the fact that adding two equal numbers is easy to remember. For example, to add 6 + 6, you just double 6 and get 12.

  This strategy is suitable for building fluency and recall of basic facts.

• Using doubles plus or minus one: This is when you use the fact that adding or subtracting one from a double is also easy. For example, to add 7 + 8, you can use the double of 7 (14) and add one more.

  Or, to add 9 + 8, you can use the double of 8 (16) and subtract one. This strategy is suitable for extending the knowledge of doubles to near-doubles.

• Adding three numbers: This is when you use the fact that adding three numbers can be done by grouping two numbers first and then adding the third. For example, to add 4 + 5 + 6, you can group 4 and 6 first (because they make a ten) and then add 5.

  Or you can group 5 and 5 first (because they are double) and then add 4. This strategy is suitable for developing flexibility and efficiency in adding.

One of the best ways to practice addition facts is to use fun and engaging worksheets that reinforce the different strategies. Here are some examples of worksheets that you can use with your child:

• Adding Doubles with Models: This worksheet helps your child practice adding doubles using pictures of objects or dots. For example, to add 4 + 4, your child can count the dots in each group and write the sum.
• Adding Doubles: Find the Missing Number: This worksheet helps your child practice adding doubles using equations with a missing number. For example, to solve __ + __ = 12, your child can think of a double that equals 12 (such as 6 + 6) and write it in the blanks.
• Add Using Doubles Plus or Minus One: This worksheet helps your child practice adding doubles plus or minus one using equations with missing numbers. For example, To solve __ + __ = 15, your child can think of a double close to 15 (such as 7 + 7) and then adjust it by adding or subtracting one.
• Adding Three Numbers using Doubles: This worksheet helps your child practice adding three numbers using doubles as a strategy. For example, to add 3 + 4 + 4, your child can use the double of 4 (8) and add 3 more.
• Addition Word Problems with Doubles: Add Three Numbers: This worksheet helps your child practice adding three numbers using word problems that involve doubles as a strategy. For example, To solve "Anna has four apples. She gives two apples to Ben. How many apples does Anna have now?", your child can subtract the double of two (4) from four.

Here are some tips and tricks that you can use to help your child master addition facts:

• Use flashcards: Flashcards are a great way to review and memorize addition facts. You can make your own flashcards using index cards or paper or buy ready-made ones from a store or online.

  You can also use online flashcards or apps with interactive features and games.

• Play games: Games are a great way to make math fun and engaging for your child. You can play games that involve dice, cards, dominoes, bingo, puzzles, board games, etc.

  You can also play online games or apps with different levels and challenges.

• Sing songs: Songs are a great way to help your child remember addition facts through music and rhythm. You can sing songs with catchy tunes and lyrics that repeat the facts.

  You can also make up your own songs using familiar melodies or rhymes.

• Read books: Books are a great way to expose your child to addition facts through stories and illustrations. You can read books with math themes or concepts, such as counting, adding, comparing, etc.

  You can also read books with math problems or puzzles your child can solve along with the characters.

• Use manipulatives: Manipulatives are physical objects your child can touch and move around to represent math concepts. You can use manipulatives such as counters, blocks, beads, coins, etc.

  You can also use everyday objects such as buttons, shells, rocks, etc.