Kindergarten Math: Subtraction Strategies
Kindergarten math: subtraction strategies replace counting the leftovers one by one: counting back for small amounts like 9 − 2, using the ten partners so 10 − 6 is answered straight from knowing 6 and 4, and turning the problem into an addition question, so 8 − 5 becomes 'what does 5 need to make 8?'. 171 printable worksheets, first three free.
Practice pages support a program; they are not the lesson. These sheets reinforce Building Number Sense Kindergarten, the sequenced K–5 math series from Faith Thinkers. See every program →
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Includes 8 activity types: Apply, Connect, Discover, Fluency, Model, Prove, Spiral, Strategy.
Teaching Subtraction Strategies
What it is
Subtraction strategies replace counting the leftovers one by one: counting back for small amounts like 9 − 2, using the ten partners so 10 − 6 is answered straight from knowing 6 and 4, and turning the problem into an addition question, so 8 − 5 becomes 'what does 5 need to make 8?'
When a child is ready
Introduce them once take-away subtraction with objects is accurate and the pairs that make ten are known.
If they struggle
Counting back stays reliable only for one, two, or three steps; a child counting back six will lose his place and land one off. For those, switch to the addition question and let him count up from the smaller number, raising a finger for each step, so the answer is the number of fingers rather than the number he stopped on.
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