Cuisenaire Rods are used daily in our math instruction. The image on the left shows each rod and its numerical value. The image on the right illustrates the rods in an up and down staircase pattern.  

N+1: Any number (1-9) plus one. Example: 6=5+1

Combinations of Ten

N+10

N+9 Fact 7+9=6+10 6+10=16, so 7+9=16

Our focus for September - December is on the following addition facts: 

• N+1
• Combinations of Ten
• N+10
• N+9
• Doubles

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The left hand side is an example of how the rods are used as a manipulative to learn the addition facts. Addition facts are also reinforced with other math tools the children have at their disposal. . 


Addition Word Problems

Joining Problems
Joining problems involve the joining of one set with another and takes place over time. There are three different types of joining problems.

• Results unknown.
  I have _____________________    ______________________. You give me _______________  ______________. How many ___________________ do I have now?
  
  Example: I have 8 bananas, you give me 2 more bananas. How many bananas do I have now?
• Change unkown.
  I have ___________    ___________________. You give me some more ________________. I now have __________________    ___________________. How many ___________________ did you give me?
  
  Example: I have 6 bananas, you give me some more bananas. I now have 10 bananas. How many bananas did you give me?
• Initial unknown. 
  I have some __________________. You give me ________________ more ________________ so that I now have __________________    __________________. How many _________________ did I start with?
  
  Example: I have some bananas. You give me three more bananas so that I now have 10 bananas. How many bananas did I start with?

Subtraction Word Problems

Seperating Problems
Seperating problems involve action over time, just as joining problems. 

• Result unknown.
  You had ________________  ________________. You gave me _________________   _______________. How many do you have left?
  
  Example: You had 10 marbles, you gave me 5 marbles. How many do you have left?
• Change unknown.
  You had _________________  ________________. You gave me some of your ___________________. Now you have ________________   _______________. How many __________________ did you give me?
  
  Example: You had 10 marbles, you gave me some of your marbles. Now you have 1 marble. How many marbles did you give me?
• Initial unknown.
  You had some ______________________. You gave me __________________ of your _____________ so that you have ___________________   ___________________ left. How many ________________ did you start with?
  
  Example: You had some marbles. You gave me 3 of your marbles so that you have 7 marbles left. How many marbles did you start with?

Please use your best judgement when deciding to give your child an addition vs a subtraction problem as you practice at home with him/her. Remember that the non-negotiable for first grade is knowing the 10 addition strategies. You may choose to extend these word problems by using numbers at your discretion.





Our focus for December - March is on the following addition facts: 

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• Near Doubles N+ (N+1) or N+ (N-1)
• Two Apart N+(N-2) Double the middle
• N+2 Facts
  5+2
  6+2
  7+
• Near Tens Facts
  3+6
  4+7
  3+
• Left Over Facts
  8+4
  8+

We will continue to review the addition strategies introduced previously.  





Our focus for March - June is on the following:


Adding using a number line:
Example: 8+9 and 9+8

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8+2=10 then the remaining 7 (from the 9) makes 10+7=17                                 9+1=10 then the remaining 7 (from the 8) makes 10+7=17

                                     Double digit adding on the number line:
                                                                Example: 34+24

                                                               Adding using place value:
                                                                Example: 34+24=58


                                                                    34= 30+4
                                                                    24= 20+4


                                                                   Add the tens: 30+20=50
                                                                   ​Add the ones: 4+4=8
                                                                   Add the tens and the ones together: 50+8=58

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                                                               We will continuing to focus on the following:
                                                               Strategies to add double-digit numbers 
                                                               Telling time to the hour and half hour
                                                               Coin identification and values