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

Agonizing over Addition? 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.

Our math worksheets are not randomly generated, they are well-thought-out, strategically designed to help students progress through the mathematical learning process.

• Adding zero.
  Zero plus a number is the number. Always exaggerate an example: zero plus a trillion is a trillion.
• 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. (sample 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. (subscribed members can use our count-up worksheet series)
• 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. (subscribed members can use our doubles worksheet series)
• 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. (subscribed members can use our doubles plus one worksheets)
• Adding ten.
  Adding ten has a system, you just put a one infront of the number being added to.
• 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. (If this doesn't work, show them that they can take 1 away from the other number and give it to the 9 making it a 10.)
• 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;
  eg., 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. Add Up: For adding on up to + 4, they should count up using the points on the lower number.

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

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

It All Adds Up

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

Addition Worksheets

• Our teaching addition math worksheets use proven techniques to help struggling students learn math concepts.
• Our practice addition math worksheets are designed to work together to help students progressively advance their addition math skills.

Return to Math Skills Index.

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