Adding doesn't have a really clear system. Whenever possible when teaching math, show students the system.

The other problem to overcome is to stop students from counting the first number when adding-on. It slows them down.
If they say 5+2 = one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, it wastes time. Have them say the name of the first number and then add-on — five, six, seven.

• Adding zero.
  Zero plus a number is the number. Always exaggerate an example: zero plus a trillion is a trillion. Go to an exercise worksheet.
• Adding one.
  One plus a number is the next number on the number line. Always exaggerate an example: One plus a zillion is a zillion and one, one plus a zillion and one is a zillion and two. Go to an exercise worksheet.
• Adding two, three, and four.
  Use "touch math" so the students can add-up using the points on the numbers.
  Try to find a font that shows the number four with four end points. Go to a 2s exercise worksheet, a 3s exercise worksheet and a 4s exercise worksheet.
• Adding doubles.
  Teach the doubles, five plus five is ten, six plus six is twelve, etc. Do this by making it a game or a song: seven plus seven is fourteen, then say the alphabet or count to twenty. Once they know 6 +6, use it to teach that 7 + 7 is just two more, etc. Go to an exercise worksheet.
• Adding a double plus one.
  Ask them what eight plus eight is. Then say if eight plus eight is sixteen then eight plus nine must be one more or seventeen.
• Adding ten.
  Adding ten has a system, you just put a one infront of the number being added to.
  eg. 10+7=17 Go to an exercise worksheet.
• Adding nine.
  If they know plus ten use it to teach plus nine. Plus nine is just one less than plus ten.
  eg. 10+6=16 then 9+6 is one less or 15. Go to an exercise worksheet.
• Teach the even and odd pairs.
  Regroup these numbers.
  eg. 5+7 = take one from the 7 and give it to the five and it becomes 6 + 6 = 12; 6 + 8 = 7 + 7 = 14.
• Teach the rest.
  5+8. This is honestly the hardest adding math fact to teach because none of the above works. I have this math fact framed so my students see it all the time.

Three strategies to use for students that have problems memorizing their addition math facts.

1. For adding on up to +4, they should count up using the points on the lower number.

2. Use a related fact like a double, for example, 6 + 5 would just be one more than 5 + 5.

3. The third method is to regroup the numbers, for example, 7 + 5 would be regrouped as 6 + 6. Use our math strategy worksheets.

See our How to use the Math Fact series to teach basic math facts.

See our Teaching Resources for Math for our well-thought out addition worksheets, lesson plans, etc. Each series of addition worksheets are designed to progressively advance a student's addition math skills.

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