Once students are using addition mental strategies with math facts, you know they are well on their way to math fact mastery. Addition mental strategies are a step beyond counting strategies. Students are not using their fingers or number lines. They use reasoning and facts they have memorized to find out facts they don’t have memorized.
So I thought I would share 3 addition mental strategies that your students need to know.
Addition Mental Strategies
Bridge to Ten
It is easy for students to add a number to 10. They can quickly see a pattern that if you add a single digit to 10, the single digit replaces the zero. For example, 10+1=11, 10+2=12, 10+3=13 and so on. I like to make sure my students see and know this pattern before teaching the make ten strategy.
Then I use ten frames to help make this addition mental strategy very visual. I take an addition equation like 8+4. I fill in 8 of the first ten frame. Then I show how we can break apart 4 into 2 and 2 to make a ten. We use 8+2=10 and we still have 2 more. 10+2=12
Once students practice with the make ten strategy it turns into one of their favorite addition mental strategies. I give them practice with task cards. They work with a partner to complete the task cards. Then I give them independent practice with a make then worksheet and then test what they know with a quick exit ticket. I also display a make ten anchor chart to help support students. Find all of these make ten resources to use in your classroom here.
Doubles and Near Doubles
Students have an easier time memorizing doubles facts. I like to teach my students a song with the doubles facts to learn them quickly. Learn about it here. Once students memorize doubles facts they can use those facts to find near doubles facts.
Let me give you an example. If the equation is 6+7, students can use addition mental strategies to figure it out. They can reason that 6+6=12. 7 is one more than 6, so the answer has to be one more than 12.
I like to make near doubles facts a big deal in my classroom. Whenever we come across one in our normal math lessons, I get super excited. I ask the kids why this math fact is a special one. I do this because I want my students to be able to recognize these facts.
I also get my students lots of practice with near doubles facts with task cards, scoot activities, and worksheets. Find the doubles facts resources I use in my classroom here.
Use 5s
After practicing different addition mental strategies, students start to create their own strategies. Here’s where you can see students being flexible with numbers. With this strategy, students break apart the numbers into fives.
For example if the equation is 7+8, they break down 7 into 5+2 and the 8 into 5+3. Then they add the 5s together to get ten and add the remaining numbers to get 15. I like to model this strategy to students during our daily number talks to help them catch on and use themselves. Read more about number talks here in this blog post: 3 Number Talk Examples That Help With Math Facts
Addition Mental Strategies Games
Math Fact of the Day
Along with these number talks, I like to make one of them into a fun addition mental strategies game. I call it “Math Fact of the Day.” Each day I put up a new math fact and give students some time to think through the answer. Then I have them turn and talk and share with a partner how they got the answer with a neighbor. Then I call on students and we record as many ways that we can. Then the next day we try to beat our many ways we got with a different addition fact.
After students get used to this, you can put them in small groups and have them record all the mental strategies they can use to get the answer. The group with the most ways wins!
Find my Math Fact of the Day resource here.
Make Ten Memory Math
Another game I have students practice the Make Ten addition strategy is Math Facts Memory Match. Students play memory match like normal, but they match the addition equation to the matching ten frames. It helps students visualize making a ten to find the answer to the math facts. This game works great as a center activity or as a fast finisher activity. Find it here.
Make Ten Go Fish
Make Ten Go Fish is similar to the matching game. Students make matches with the addition equations to the ten frames. My students love this game as a fast finisher activity. Find it here.
Read more about addition and subtraction math fact strategies here: Math Fact Strategies That Work
Looking for a step by step guide to getting your 1st grade or 2nd grade students to math fact fluency? I’ve got one just for you: The 7 Steps to Ensure Math Fact Fluency.
Download your free copy here.
