This free math tutoring video will encourage you to forget finger counting! Finger Counting should be left behind (or, even better, not taught at all) after Kindergarten. Beginning at 1st grade level math (or adding and subtracting within 20) children should be taught mental math strategies in order to figure out answers. Counting is not figuring. Counting is chanting a memorized list. We want our children’s minds actively engaged in the mental manipulation of numbers so that they develop and solidify number sense within themselves.
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Mental Math Subtraction – Part Two – Free Math Tutoring Video
Here is part two in the free math tutoring videos showing you how to teach subtraction using mental math strategies. This particular strategy is about “taking from the ten” and is SO much more useful than counting back. It is often easier than the way I showed in part one, especially if you are subtracting 6, 7, 8, or 9.
Three manipulatives are shown as options for teaching this concept – plastic eggs, an abacus and Cuisenaire Rods. Feel free to substitute your own manipulatives. The important thing is that the children have something to TOUCH as well as look at when learning how to subtract this way. Enough times of doing it with manipulatives and they will begin to internalize the structure of the method and won’t need them anymore.
Mental Math Subtraction – Part One – Free Math Tutoring Video
This free math tutoring video shows the first way to explain how to do mental subtraction. It is basically the opposite of the way of how mental addition is taught. The next video will show another way to teach subtraction, which may be easier for some problems. Both ways should be taught and children can choose which they like best.
Three manipulatives are shown as options for teaching this concept – plastic eggs, an abacus and Cuisenaire Rods. Feel free to substitute your own manipulatives. The important thing is that the children have something to TOUCH as well as look at when learning how to subtract this way. Enough times of doing it with manipulatives and they will begin to internalize the structure of the method and won’t need them anymore.