Adding big, unfriendly numbers ...

Another quick blurb to help the little ones.

I've seen a few of our kids have trouble with multiple-digit numbers, whether they are adding them or subtracting them.

With Number Sense, we show them how to make the numbers "friendlier" and use mental math.

For example,

587 + 319 = ?

We give the kids a framework to think of the place values ...

500 and 300 are 800

80 and 10 are 90

7 and 9 are 16

Last, the kids take 890, count up 10 to get 900 then up 16 to 906.  This gets them thinking about the idea in physical terms rather than by algorithm.

It's worked well for us, give it a try with your little ones...

-Carlo