The Best Addition And Subtraction Strategies For Kindergarten

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 30, 2025, 12:33 PM

the best addition and subtraction strategies for kindergarten

Learning how to add and subtract is an exciting, yet challenging, math milestone for young learners! Teaching students a variety of addition and subtraction strategies will help them strengthen their number sense as they learn how to add and subtract. In this post, I’m going to share some of my favorite math strategies to teach young learners, and how I introduce them using Math Strategies Posters. Taking the time to introduce your students to different math strategies will greatly benefit your students as they learn how to add and subtract. Here are just a few of the perks of teaching a wide range of strategies in your classroom: Move from Concrete to Abstract – Math strategies come in many different varieties, with some being much more concrete than others.

This can create a natural progression for your students as they learn about addition and subtraction in concrete terms at first. As their math skills develop, they can move on to learning more abstract addition and subtraction strategies. This will help them get ready for math practice in first grade and beyond! Differentiate Instruction – When you teach addition and subtraction with various strategies and hands-on activities, your students will be more likely to find one that makes the most sense to them. Prepare for Word Problems – Learning a variety of strategies will help students prepare for word problems and more challenging math tasks. They will be able to look at problems in different ways in order to come up with a solution.

Thank you for your extra time and energy! Your blogs read like a good novel, filled with love and laughter! Why can’t Staff meetings be as informative and fun as you and your posts!!?? Big hugs and smiles all day! Justine Schmeiser Oh goodness!

You know how to make my day! Thank you so much! I have seen some of your 1 minute timing addition and subtraction pages but cannot find them for purchase. They have little race cars on them and trophies with letters to keep track of student progress. I looked on this website and on TPT but didn’t see it… What do you click on to get the 14 strageties for addition and are they free?

Thanks Hello Judy, The 14 strategies are listed and described in the text of this blog post. Thank you and let us know if you have any other questions! Where can I find the place value/tens frame mat pictured here under the heading ” 11 – Base 10 Blocks”? Hello Nina! You can find this mat and 6 other free place value activities in this file: https://luckylittlelearners.com/lp-free-place-value/

Sorry if I am missing it somewhere, but is it possible to download/purchase the addition strategies chart for students to reference as a “tool box”? Thanks! Learning addition and subtraction is an important milestone for kindergarten children. These foundational math skills lay the groundwork for their future mathematical understanding. In this blog post, I will explore some practical tips and strategies to help kindergarten kids grasp addition and subtraction with ease AND enjoyment. Kindergarteners learn best through hands-on experiences.

Use manipulatives like counting blocks, buttons, or everyday objects like pencils or food to help them visualize addition and subtraction. By physically manipulating objects, they can understand adding more or taking away. Visual aids are excellent tools for young learners. Incorporate pictures, number lines, and charts to represent addition and subtraction problems. These visual representations enhance comprehension and enable them to see the relationship between numbers. Number bonds are a powerful visual tool to teach addition and subtraction.

They help kinders to understand the relationship between numbers and how they can be combined or separated. Make math relevant by integrating it into real-life situations. Use their names and real-life scenarios that would happen in their daily life. I’ve been teaching math to little ones for quite a few years, and one of the first big hurdles we tackle together is learning addition. Learning how to teach addition to kids has been a journey full of fun moments and a few challenges. But nothing beats the look on a child’s face when they finally understand how to add numbers together.

Watch your kids fall in love with math & reading through our scientifically designed curriculum. When it comes to teaching addition, it’s all about making it as hands-on and as relatable as possible. In this blog, I’ll share some tips from my experience to help you teach addition in a way that’s easy and enjoyable for kids. Laying the groundwork for addition begins with fun and engaging pre-addition skills. The goal here is to get kids comfortable with numbers through everyday play and routines. Welcome, parents and teachers, to the wonderful world of teaching addition and subtraction to kindergarteners!

📚 Whether you're a seasoned educator or a parent stepping into the world of homeschooling, this blog is packed with tips, tricks, and a sprinkle of humor to make learning math a blast. Get ready to dive into activities, charts, and creative strategies that will help your little ones master these foundational math skills. Why Teach Addition and Subtraction Early? Before we jump into the fun stuff, let's talk about why it's important to introduce addition and subtraction at an early age. Kindergarten is a crucial time for building the foundation of math skills. Understanding basic arithmetic helps kids develop critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a love for learning.

The Essential Tools in Teaching Addition and Subtraction Hands-On Activities to Teach Addition and Subtraction So you’ve taught the number basics and it’s time to start introducing and strengthening your student’s skills in Addition. It may seem overwhelming and I understand. Some students are ready while some aren’t quite there yet, the planning and prepping, and the assessments. I’ve been there and I’m here to help!

Teaching Addition in Kindergarten does not have to be overwhelming, let me help! I follow the same strategy when I introduce anything new to my students. There are five steps and they are as follows: I’m not just going to share this tried and true strategy with you, then leave you to fend for yourself. I created a complete resource as an easy way to implement the above steps in teaching addition to little learners. Do you see that list?

This 100 page resource has almost everything you need. So your introduction to addition planning can be completed with this ONE resource! Your students will be engaged, every step of the way with all of these ways to introduce this new skill. Teaching addition to kindergarteners can be a fun and exciting adventure. At this stage, children are eager to learn and explore, making it the perfect time to learn math concepts. In this article, we will discuss the importance of learning addition in kindergarten, understanding the kindergarten math curriculum and provide several fun activities to teach addition for kindergarten.

The kindergarten math curriculum typically includes various foundational skills, with addition being a key focus area. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect: Children learn to count numbers sequentially, both forwards and backwards. They also practice counting objects and recognizing numbers. Recognizing numbers is essential for performing addition. Children should be able to identify numbers up to at least 20.

Subtraction might seem like a daunting task for kids, but it can actually be a fun Unlocking the secrets of 2-digit addition with regrouping can transform young learners into confident math wizards! Unlocking the world of numbers can be a fun adventure for young learners, and one of As state testing begins, we may need some state testing motivation ideas, so students try their Dive into the world of numbers and equations as we unlock how to solve different types

The Best Addition And Subtraction Strategies For Kindergarten

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Thanks Hello Judy, The 14 Strategies Are Listed And Described