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This Reading Mama

Learning to Add and Subtract {FREE printable}

By thisreadingmama 16 Comments

Just recently, I attended a training session called Reading in Math. It was an interesting session that really stretched my thoughts about reading. While the session was designed for upper elementary, middle, and high school, I had a lot of take-aways for my own kiddos, especially when it came to word problems and math vocabulary.

While my Kindergartner has the basics of how to add and subtract, I wanted to stretch him a bit and bring in some of that math vocabulary.

Learning to Add and Subtract - Tiered Activities This Reading Mama

*This post contains affiliate links.

Learning to Add and Subtract with a Graphic Organizer

Learning new concepts works best if we start with the concrete and then move to the abstract. For math especially, this can mean hands-on and manipulatives. And that’s exactly what you will find as you use this free printable math pack {download at the end of this post}.

Add and Subtract with Mickey Martian Math Organizer - FREE

In this pack, you’ll find a graphic organizer I call Mickey Martian, a borrowed name from a veteran teacher. I used it quite a bit when I was a classroom teacher to introduced addition and subtraction. And we’ve been using it for several years at home as well. You can slip it into a plastic sleeve protector or laminate it.

 

 

add five and four with Mickey Martian

Mickey Martian works well for both addition and subtraction, depending on which way you orient him. I like to teach addition with him first. The child reads the number sentence and places the number of manipulatives needed in each “ear”. Then, the child slides all the manipulatives down into the “head” as he adds them together.

 

subtract with Mickey Martian

It I also works with subtraction. Just turn the organizer upside down. Place the total amount needed in the “head”, then take away the number, placing the manipulatives in the “ear”.

 

Add and Subtract with Word Problems

NJoy (in Kindergarten) knows how to use Mickey Martian for addition and subtraction. So this week, we used it to solve word problems with addition and subtraction.

matching word problems to number sentences

First we played a matching game. After reading the word problem together, I asked him to match up the number sentence to each problem. I only gave 5-6 matching pairs at one time until I knew he had it.

 

vocabulary words for addition and subtraction

We also talked about the match vocabulary in the word problems that gave him a clue that he should add or subtract. He mentioned that more should also go under “+”. And while this is true, I mentioned that sometimes the phrase many more can tell us to subtract. He was a little confused by this until we worked one of the word problems together that had the phrase in it. I’ve included more and many more in the download.

 

using manipulative to solve word problems

We then tackled some word problems together. On day 1, we did mainly addition problems. We read each problem and used the math organizer to solve the problem,

 

writing a number sentence to match the word problem

then he wrote the number sentence with dry erase marker.

writing a subtraction sentence

On day 2 of word problems, we worked on subtraction problems and writing the subtraction sentences. And on day 3, we mixed up the addition and subtraction word problems. We worked together to figure out which operation he needed to use, based on the math vocabulary in the word problem. He worked the problem on Mickey Martian, then recorded the number sentence.

So, math and reading aren’t as separate as we may think! Reading can be integrated right into math, from word problems to vocabulary!

More Math Ideas:

  • Alphabet Grid Games (numbers 1-20, 1-30 and 1-50)
  • Skip Counting Word Problems
  • Find Seasonal Addition and Subtraction Mats in every Pre-K/K Pack!
  • m & m Math

Follow This Reading Mama’s board Math Learning for Kids on Pinterest.

 

Download this Math Printable Pack HERE.

 

Download-Print Help

Please note that I am now using a new clip art company. My files are required to be secured. Please read the helpful tips if you are not able to download or print the file. Thanks!

 

~Becky

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Filed Under: Math Activities Tagged With: AS

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Comments

  1. Carrie says

    December 31, 2014 at 12:35 pm

    Are you going to have a long vowel and/or silent e app anytime soon? I hope so! Can’t wait!!!

    Reply
    • thisreadingmama says

      December 31, 2014 at 6:11 pm

      Yes, it’s already being sold on Google Play. iOS is coming soon! 🙂 https://thisreadingmama.com/long-vowel-word-study-app/

      Reply
  2. sarah says

    January 1, 2015 at 7:45 am

    thank you, this looks like it will be great in the classroom. Can’t wait to put it to work

    Reply
    • thisreadingmama says

      January 1, 2015 at 8:46 am

      You’re very welcome!

      Reply
  3. Po Tim says

    July 18, 2016 at 10:26 pm

    Thanks for sharing! I’m sure my kids will love it.

    Reply
  4. Tami says

    December 4, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Found this today and couldn’t have come at a better time. Tomorrow we begin diving into story problems. Love this. Found this resource by way of The Measured Mom.

    Reply
    • thisreadingmama says

      December 5, 2016 at 6:47 am

      Yay for good timing! I’m so thankful you can use it.

      Reply
  5. Teacher Joseph says

    January 3, 2017 at 9:22 pm

    Your resources are amazing. Very helpful. Thank you. Why did I only discover you in the middle of our school semester. Keep it up.

    Reply
    • thisreadingmama says

      January 5, 2017 at 6:42 am

      Yay! So glad you’re here now! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Tonia Major says

    February 19, 2017 at 10:21 am

    The use of math vocabulary cards is going to be powerful for my English Learners! Thank you, very helpful for helping them learn academic vocabulary.

    Reply
  7. Suzanne B. says

    March 8, 2017 at 10:35 am

    This site is AMAZING!!! You have wonderful resources!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!! I have a struggling student and I am printing away in hope that these activities will help him!!! Thanks again!!!

    Reply
    • thisreadingmama says

      March 8, 2017 at 4:37 pm

      You’re welcome! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Emmanual says

    May 20, 2017 at 11:48 pm

    What a fun hands-on way to teach math!

    Reply
  9. Christine Kirk says

    April 29, 2018 at 9:36 pm

    I can’t wait to see how the student react to this.

    Reply
    • thisreadingmama says

      April 30, 2018 at 7:21 am

      🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. FREE Learning to Add and Subtract Printables | Free Homeschool Deals © says:
    February 12, 2015 at 11:55 pm

    […] Reading Mama has FREE Learning to Add and Subtract Activities with printables. Your child will learn reading and math and all while practicing problem […]

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Becky, a homeschooling mama with 4 blessings who keep me on my toes {and knees}. Before homeschooling, I was a classroom teacher (M.Ed.) and reading tutor. Read more about me here.

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