Do your children struggle to remember their addition facts? While it is important for children to memorize their math facts, there are some addition fact strategies that can help your child figure out some of the facts they haven’t learned yet.
Count On by 1 or 2
If an addition fact involves either adding 1 or 2 to another number, a child can simply count on. Start with the other addend and count 1 or 2 more numbers. (8 + 1 = count 8, 9 to get the answer; 11 + 2 = count 11, 12, 13 to get the answer)
Sometimes called the zero property, the rule states when you add zero to any number, the number stays the same. This is an important math strategy for children to remember. Adding zero doesn’t change the number no matter what number you start with.
A double fact is when the same number is added to itself (like 4 +4). Although there is no easy strategy to memorizing these facts, they are useful in remembering other addition facts. You could try having your child put the facts and their answers to music. In fact, there is a fun doubles fact song on youtube.com set to the music of “The Farmer in the Dell.”
Once your child has mastered his double facts, the addition facts that are only one number away are easier to figure out. A child just has to think of the doubles fact that applies and add one more to that answer. If the problem is 6 + 7, a child would think of the fact 6 + 6 = 12. So then, 6 + 7 = one more than 12, which would make the answer 13. Being able to add one more to any doubles fact answer allows your child to remember many more addition facts than just the doubles alone.
When adding 9 to a number, it sometimes helps a child to start by adding 10 to the number and then taking one away from the answer. For example, when solving 5 + 9, your child would first think 5 + 10 = 15. Once they have the answer 15, take one away to get 14, the answer to 5 + 9. Since many students seem to struggle more with the 9 family, this strategy makes those facts a little easier to manage.
Even if your child has a hard time memorizing addition facts, they can still succeed in math class. Teaching them these strategies will help them understand addition better, and they will also help them remember some of those tricky addition facts!
Does your child struggle with his addition facts? What tips do you have for remembering addition facts?