How to Learn Subtraction Facts

 

Do your students know their subtraction facts? 

How to you track what math facts students know? 

Having students keep track of their Math facts doesn't have to be hard. There are some organization tools you can use to help your students master their subtraction facts. Let's look at the best way to learn math facts for kids.  

How to Learn Subtraction Facts

Learning subtraction math facts is a process. Let's look at the progression of Subtraction Math Facts. At the beginning of Kindergarten students are learning to count to 20 and may know some of the 1s facts. By the end of Kindergarten students should be able to fluently subtract within 5. By the end of 1st grade students should know most of their addition facts too. 

Subtraction Flash Cards

Practicing with flash cards helps focus on small math tasks.

There are many ways to get students to master math facts. One way is with flash cards for student practice. Students can practice at their own pace and focus on three, five, or seven math facts at a time. Once they master those, pick more to work on. These Subtraction to 20 math flash cards are 3.5 x 5 inches. You can print and place them in a photo (task card) box for easy storage. 

Subtraction Games

Playing math games is fun and engaging for students.

Another way students can learn math facts is with games. Learning through play is one of the best methods to memorize math facts. Subtraction to 20 math games are printable with playing cards and counting bears included. Students can choose from 11 different math mats to play. Easy to put at a math center or have a Friday game day with the whole class! Engaging students with games will motivate students to enjoy math and master their math facts at the same time.

Subtraction Worksheets

For students who are visual and concrete learners, working with worksheets and manipulatives is best. The Subtraction to 20 worksheets go through the levels of math addition to mastery. Try using worksheets with 20 or less problems. Students should be able to finish the worksheet of 20 problems in less than 10 minutes. If it takes the student longer you can break up the assignment and only highlight the problems they need to practice first. Allow them to come back to the other problems later and work on those. 

Learning subtraction math facts can be quick and easy. Help and motivate students with an easy math facts checklist. This will help students keep track of what subtraction facts they know and what they need to know. 

Want to access the subtraction facts list? 

Click HERE to Download the free math facts checklist. 

Happy Teaching!

10 Skills Every Child Should Know Before Kindergarten

Are you preparing your child for Kindergarten?

Is your child ready to enter elementary school?

There are some things that teachers want all students to know before entering elementary school. These motor skills, facts, and behavioral skills are necessary for every child to be successful. Go over the checklist with your child to make sure they are ready for their first day! 

10 Skills Every Child Should Know Before Kindergarten

1. Say Their Name.

Students should be able to say their first and last name when asked by the teacher.

2. Write Their Name.

Students should be able to write their first name by themselves without the assistance of an adult (teacher). 

3. Know Letters in Their Name.

Students should know all the letters in their first name. Students should be able to say each letter aloud and write each letter.

4. Three Finger Grasp. 

Students should use the appropriate 3 finger grasp when writing. Students need to practice writing their name with the 3 finger grasp. 

5. Make Letter Sounds.

Students should be able to make most letter/sound matches by themselves. For example, a student should be able to hear Alligator and know it starts with A. 

6. Letters.

Students should be able to identify ALL upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet.  

7. Count to 30.

Students should be able to count from 1 to 30 in numerical order out loud. 

8. Identify Numbers.

Students should know the numbers 1 to 10. They should be able to identify any number from 1 to 10 in random order.

9. Use Finger Counting.

Students should be able to use finger counting to accurately touch count items to ten. 

10. Know Shapes.

Students should be able to identify specific two dimensional geometry shapes.

These skills are important for your child to be successful in Kindergarten. Be ready for Kindergarten this Fall by preparing this Summer. Review important skills with your child with the Kindergarten Readiness Packet. Just print and practice with your child.

  Skills reviewed tracing and writing.

>>Click HERE to download<<

Reading logs, cover, list of pre-requisites and parent letter.

>>Click HERE to download<< 

 Skills reviewed are cutting and fine motor skills. 

Practice with manipulatives.

>>Click HERE to download<<

Your child can be successful in Kindergarten this Fall. Help them be prepared and review the necessary skills that all Kindergarten teachers want their students to know.

All the Best, 

3 Tips for Pre-K Writing

Is your preschooler ready to write? 

Tip #1: Make sure your Pre-K student is ready. I recently found myself at the point where my preschooler was ready to write letters and form words. This was a great step in the writing process. He would pick up the pencil and trace the letters. Then he began to write the letters himself with little to no direction. Afterwards, I noticed that there was a problem. His pencil grip needed adjusting.

Do you practice the proper pencil grip? 

Tip #2: Check their pencil grip. I began the search for a pencil to help him with his pencil grip. I was constantly reminding him to "three finger pinch" the pencil. I was saying it so much I thought about recording my voice and just pressing the play button again and again. Instead of automating my voice, I found a solution by using a new writing tool.

What do we use?

Tip #3: Have the proper writing utensil. We are using the "Tri-Write" pencils that I found on Amazon (affiliate link below). These are helping him develop his "three finger pinch". It has definitely helped him hold the pencil with ease. He is able to write and hold the pencil to make the letters. When he has mastered this skill of pencil grip and hold we will be transitioning to a regular pencil.




I hope this helps in your journey of teaching writing. This is a great accommodation for students who need help holding a pencil, learning to write, and forming letters. Learning to love writing starts with learning to hold a pencil. The right pencil can make a big difference to the learner.

Happy Teaching!

Halloween Math FREEBIE

Do you need a Halloween Math resource for your Kindergarten students?

This is a great sample of the Interactive Math Notebook for Kindergarten. Students can cut, paste, and review key math skills for Grade K. Easy to print and go for your classroom.

Click HERE to download.

This Halloween Interactive Math Notebook FREEBIE FEATURES:

✔2 Pages of Halloween Math Activities in Color

✔Skills Reviewed: Represent, Count, and Write Numbers 0 to 5

✔Fun Halloween activities centered on reviewing Common Core State Standards

✔Packed with common core math problems for review and practice

✔Lots of coloring fun. A MUST: Using a set of crayons or markers.

✔Common Core State Standards Covered:

CCSS.Math.Content.K.OA.A.3 Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3 and 5 = 4 + 1).

CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.A.3 Write numbers from 0 to 20. Represent a number of objects with a written numeral 0-20 (with 0 representing a count of no objects).

CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.4 Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.

CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.5 Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1-20, count out that many objects.

Students cut and paste candy 

Create numbers in 5 frames

Review skills 

If you have never done interactive notebooks with your kindergarten students, this is a great starter activity to get them working independently. Download it HERE. Students love the independence of cutting and pasting activities. Reviewing for mastery helps them take ownership of their work and pride in their accomplishments. 

Happy Teaching!

Kindergarten Task Cards - Alphabet Play Dough

Do you want to engage your students in creating the alphabet?

Do you use play dough as a literacy center?

Do your students need more practice with the alphabet and letter sounds?

Click HERE to DOWNLOAD 

These Alphabet play dough task cards are intended to help students understand how to recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet. These task cards review key skills for Kindergarten and are a perfect literacy center.

Interactive for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. 

Creating letters multiple times and sounding out each letter. 

Click HERE to DOWNLOAD 

FEATURES:
✔5 Different Sets of Literacy and Math Task Cards (fit in 4x6 photo box)
✔400+ total Task Cards (Uppercase & lowercase in both color and black & white)
✔1 Cover for each Task Cards Box
✔FUN review of Alphabet, Reading, & Math skills
✔Overview, Table of Contents, and How to use this centers activity INCLUDED!


These cards are engaging and great starters for students to create with play dough. Make letters with stamps, fingers, or other utensils to build the alphabet.  

Happy Teaching!

September Interactive Math Notebook Kindergarten

Do your students need practice and review of Kindergarten Math skills? 

Do you want to change up your lessons with interactive math materials? 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

These interactive notebook activities are intended to help students understand how to decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way, write numbers from 0 to 20, understand the relationships between numbers and quantities, count “how many?”, identify whether the number of objects is greater than, less than, or equal to, and compare two numbers between 1 and 10.

Cutting out the manipulatives. High Quality Clipart Images.

Gluing into their notebooks with precision.

Students take ownership of their work. 

 Reviewing key skills and demonstrating mastery with review.

✔Common Core State Standards Covered:
CCSS.Math.Content.K.OA.A.3Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3 and 5 = 4 + 1).
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.A.3Write numbers from 0 to 20. Represent a number of objects with a written numeral 0-20 (with 0 representing a count of no objects).
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.4Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.5Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1-20, count out that many objects.
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.C.6Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.1
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.C.7Compare two numbers between 1 and 10 presented as written numerals.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

This September Interactive Math Notebook FEATURES: 
✔50 Pages of September Math Activities in Color
✔50 Pages of September Math Activities in Black & White
✔Skills Reviewed: Represent, Count, and Write Numbers 0 to 5 
✔Skills Reviewed: Compare Numbers To 5 
✔Skills Reviewed: Represent, Count, and Write Numbers 6 to 9 
✔Fun September activities centered on reviewing Common Core State Standards
✔Packed with common core math problems for review and practice
✔Lots of coloring fun. A MUST: Using a set of crayons or markers.

Every page has interactive pieces for student engagement. 

Students take ownership of creating their notebooks.

Practice of kindergarten math skills for fluency.

Students are retell and review math concepts for mastery.

Reviewing math skills with different methods deepens students' conceptual knowledge. Other teachers have used these materials for RTI and review to help students develop mastery. I hope your students enjoy learning and engaging with these math skills too!

Happy Teaching!

Interactive Math Notebook Kindergarten August

Are your students ready for Kindergarten?

Do they need some extra practice of Kindergarten math skills?

Click HERE to download

These interactive notebook activities are intended to help students understand how to decompose numbers less than or equal to 5 into pairs in more than one way, write numbers from 0 to 5, understand the relationships between numbers and quantities, count “how many?”, identify whether the number of objects is greater than, less than, or equal to, and compare two numbers between 0 and 5.

How to use it:
1. A fun review of grade level Math CCSS skills
2. Substitute packet for days when you are sick or not at school
3. Morning Work, Classwork, and more

Click HERE to download

 Cut and glue all the pieces.

Review work and show mastery.

FEATURES:

✔50 Pages of August Math Activities in Color

✔50 Pages of August Math Activities in Black & White

✔Skills Reviewed: Represent, Count, and Write Numbers 0 to 5

✔Skills Reviewed: Compare Numbers To 5

✔Fun August activities centered on reviewing Common Core State Standards

✔Packed with common core math problems for review and practice

✔Lots of coloring fun. A MUST: Using a set of crayons or markers.

✔Common Core State Standards Covered:
CCSS.Math.Content.K.OA.A.3Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3 and 5 = 4 + 1).
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.A.3Write numbers from 0 to 20. Represent a number of objects with a written numeral 0-20 (with 0 representing a count of no objects).
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.4Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.B.5Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1-20, count out that many objects.
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.C.6Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.1
CCSS.Math.Content.K.CC.C.7Compare two numbers between 1 and 10 presented as written numerals.

Practice cutting and fine motor skills. 

 Creating ownership and pride of their work in math notebooks.

Showing mastery of math skills. 

What other teachers are saying about the Monthly IMN activities: 

"RTI time with Kinders can be challenging.  This interactive notebook gives the students cutting, coloring and gluing, things that will keep them engaged and learning while also being fun!  Thank you!" -Kinder Teacher "I love using this for my Math Intervention Group in Kindergarten!" -Happy K Teacher Interactive Math Activities are engaging and help students understand the concepts better. Easy to use for intervention, lessons, or extra practice. Happy Teaching!