STEP 1
Teach children to recognize and combine groups of physical objects up to 11 (without counting). Use a variety of objects that interest children such as coins, books, dinosaurs, action figures, cars, and stuffed animals.
- Show children groups of 1-11 physical objects and have them call out the corresponding number.
- Have children show you a specified number of objects without counting.
- Combine objects per the table above and then immediately separate these groups again into their component parts. For example, 1 pencil and 1 pencil, 1 coin and 5 coins, and 1 car and 10 cars, etc.
- When children are ready, call out problems from the table and have children combine and separate the object groups themselves.
- Children must perfectly master the operations listed in the table before proceeding to the next step of the lesson.
STEP 2
Children add objects they can't see, but can imagine (bears, mountains, trees).
- Using the table above as a guide, ask children to call out the answer to questions such as, 'How many are one shoe and three shoes?' and 'How many are one frog and ten frogs?'
- Continue to practice until children can recite each operation in the table with great accuracy and rapidity.
STEP 3
In this step, do not mention objects. Children add numbers directly.
- Using the table above as a guide, ask children to call out the answer to questions such as, 'How many are one and five?' and 'How many are nine and one?'
- Continue to practice until children can recite each operation in the table with great accuracy and rapidity.
STEP 4
Direct children to write and recite the addition problems in the table above. For example, children write and recite:
- 1 and 10 are 11
- 1 plus 10 is 11
- 1 + 10 = 11
Repeat for each combination in the table until the children master the tasks.
STEP 5
Begin to teach place value.
- Tie a group of 10 objects together (sticks, pencils, paperclips etc.).
- Say - this is a group of 10.
- Ask - 'How many objects are in this bunch?'
- When children answer '10', write the number '10' on a whiteboard or paper.
- Hold up one bunch and one object and ask - 'How many objects am I holding now?'
- When they answer '11', say - 'Yes, eleven is made up of one 10 and one 1.
- Write the number '11.' Point at the '1' in the 10s place and say 'one 10.' Point at the '1' in the 1s place and say 'one 1.'
STEP 6
Assess mastery by reading aloud the word problems listed below and having the children mentally compute and recite the solutions.
If children have difficulties, repeat the prior steps and then reassess.