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14 Addition Anchor Charts That Really Add Up!

Addition is one of the first math ideas kids learn after understanding basic numbers. Having mini anchor charts is helpful since addition is taught early, even before kindergarten. It’s important to teach it well because math skills grow from each other.

Without a solid foundation, students will lack the confidence in solving addition going forward. Fortunately, the basics of addition are pretty easy to demonstrate visually –in fact, it is essential. This is why math anchor charts and strategy posters are a teacher’s best friend. They are the perfect tool to visually demonstrate concepts to remind students at all times, making them feel more confident and self-reliant.

Of course, as the numbers become larger and more strategies are introduced, you will need a more detailed anchor chart. But if the basics are taught well, it is simply a natural progression.

Table of Contents

Advantages of teachers utilizing addition anchor charts, staying focused, vivid visuals and large fonts, addition vocabulary poster from teaching ideas, teach strategies for addition, show the relationship between addition and subtraction from we are teachers, addition and subtraction anchor charts by teachers r us homeschool, math anchor charts by rathgeber resources, printable math game: addition to the thousands by, 1 digit addition tic tac toe math classroom game in owl theme by crafty with calani, 2 digit addition anchor chart by natalie’s nook, addition tables charts from teacher created, addition pocket chart from this reading mama, vocabulary posters from teaching ideas, all-in-one strategy pack for early adders from we heart teaching.

Addition anchor charts are a valuable visual tool for instructing addition concepts in the classroom. These math anchor charts help clarify and strengthen mathematical ideas, making it simpler for students to comprehend and retain or review addition and subtraction-related concepts. Here are some advantages of using addition anchor charts in the classroom:

• Demystifies Complex Ideas: Addition anchor charts can deconstruct intricate addition ideas into smaller, more digestible steps. By presenting information in a straightforward and succinct manner, anchor charts assist students in understanding and applying the principles of addition more efficiently.
• Accommodates Various Learning Styles: Anchor charts address different learning styles, as they present information visually, verbally, and through examples. This multi-faceted approach ensures that all students, regardless of their preferred learning style, can benefit from the information presented.
• Promotes Active Learning: Addition anchor charts serve as a continuous reference point for students during lessons, enabling them to actively engage with the material. Students can refer to the anchor charts throughout the learning process, reinforcing their comprehension of the concepts.
• Supports Independent Practice: Anchor charts offer students a framework to follow when independently working on addition problems. With a clear understanding of the steps involved, students can confidently tackle problems on their own, developing their self-reliance and problem-solving skills.
• Encourages Classroom Discussion: Addition anchor charts can stimulate class discussions and foster peer learning. Students can reference the charts during group activities or when explaining their thought processes, encouraging communication and collaboration among classmates.
• Acts as a Teaching Aid: For teachers, addition anchor charts can serve as a helpful teaching aid, assisting them in explaining complex concepts more effectively. Furthermore, math anchor charts can save time by providing a quick reference for students, reducing the need for constant repetition of instructions.
• Boosts Retention and Recall: The visual nature of anchor charts aids in memory retention and recall. Students are more likely to remember concepts when they can visualize the steps and processes, making it easier for them to apply their knowledge in future lessons or evaluations.

In conclusion, incorporating addition anchor charts into the classroom offers numerous advantages for both teachers and students. These visual aids can demystify complex ideas, accommodate various learning styles, promote active learning, support independent practice, encourage classroom discussion, act as a teaching aid, and boost student confidence, retention and recall. By leveraging these advantages, educators can create a more engaging and effective learning environment for their students.

Elements of a good addition anchor chart

An anchor chart is a visual representation of a concept, or procedure students can refer to as they learn. Their advantages go beyond merely hanging a poster in your classroom. All students learn differently, and using your chart paper as a working document can benefit various learning styles.

Obviously, visual learners will help, but kinesthetic learners will also benefit if you use your anchor chart as an interactive anchor chart. Students can participate in creating interactive math anchor charts, which allows them to understand the why interactive anchor charts are better and makes them more likely to reference them. So, what separates a good anchor chart from the rest?

This is especially important when it comes to such a fundamental concept. You don’t want to overwhelm the students with too much information at once. If you want your anchor charts to teach the vocabulary related to addition, stick to it. If you’re going to show math instruction, then focus on that. But if you cram everything onto one chart, it will be overwhelming. Of course, you can have a summary anchor chart over and above your specific concepts, but avoid using that as your only go-to.

Make sure your anchor chart is easy to see and read from the furthest point in the classroom. Tiny fonts and puny pictures will leave students frustrated. Instead, your anchor chart should be placed where it is easily accessible. You can use color coding to highlight terms and concepts that work together.

Use manipulatives

Let students work with physical objects before transferring the information to your anchor chart. For example, blocks can be used to learn addition and physically represent what students are learning so they develop a better understanding.

Use context

Instead of teaching concepts using only abstract numbers, use real-life examples when possible. For example, use numbers or words your students are already familiar with, like numbers in sports, measurements, or amounts of money.

Use Sticky Notes

Sticky notes are crucial if you want students to interact with an anchor chart. Students write information or draw pictures on the notes and then add them to the chart. There are countless possibilities. Simply remove the sticky notes once the anchor chart has been taken down, and they can be used again next year.

Different ways to use addition anchor charts

When introducing the concept of addition, keep it very simple, and display the vocabulary associated with adding.

Addition Strategies from Saddle Up For 2nd Grade

Once you have covered the basics, show addition strategies and let students use the one that works for them. Just ensure they fully understand the concept first.

The same applies to multi-digit addition From The Tutoring Center, Greenville

Offer your students a variety of place-value strategies to explore. Not only will this help them discover which method works best for them, but it will also facilitate a deeper understanding of the concept of addition.

Teach bonds/facts From Livin’ In A Van

The mental pictures formed by number bonds are crucial for your student’s mental math. Understanding addition number bonds makes it much simpler for them to comprehend addition and subtraction strategies.

These concepts go hand in hand and shouldn’t be taught as entirely separate concepts. Familiarise students with their relationship from the beginning, even if it is subtle.

Addition resources from Teach Simple

This resource provides everything you need to develop this math anchor chart with your students.

These cards instruct young learners on solving addition and subtraction through techniques such as counting on, employing a number line, utilizing algorithms, and many other methods.

This interactive math game includes sheets for your students to record their answers, an answer key, and 40 math problems to print out for them to work on!

Want to turn learning math into an exciting activity? Use these Tic Tac Toe PowerPoint games to do just that!

Other addition resources

This premade anchor chart is the perfect resource to introduce 2 digit addition and subtraction problems with regrouping to your second grade math students.

Just like multiplication tables should always be available, an addition tables chart is a must-have.

This addition pocket chart helps students practice basic addition problems with sums to 10. In addition, this set comes with 48 pocket chart addition problems and answers for your students to solve and match.

A clear, simple vocabulary poster is a classroom essential.

This addition strategies unit includes everything you need to create a solid foundation for your students.

There are a lot of resources available to help you build your addition anchor chart, as well as support your students struggling to remember your lessons. Some activities are ideal for monitoring your student’s progress after you’re done. There are so many approaches that your students won’t even realize they are doing the same concept repeatedly. Some are free, some are paid, but all of them will inspire your student confidence in solving for you.

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Nicola lives in Johannesburg, South Africa. Before starting her career as a writer, she specialized in gifted education and now writes about education and supporting parents and teachers of children who are “different” according to commonly-held views.

We have a lot of interesting articles and educational resources from a wide variety of authors and teaching professionals.

9 Summary Anchor Charts Created By Teachers To Help Your Students Learn

37 brilliant place value anchor charts & resources.

Last Updated on September 10, 2023 by Teach Simple

Understanding place value is crucial before delving into addition with regrouping. Without a solid grasp of place value, progressing further in instruction becomes pointless.Depending on where you teach, you may be required to teach 2-digit and 3-digit addition a bit differently.  So, I am providing you will a variety of strategies that you can try with your students.  If you see a strategy that you cannot use, keep scrolling. I promise there will be something that you will find helpful.

1. Place Value Mats

Before I start my addition with regrouping unit, I spend a month teaching place value .  Students must be solid in their place value understanding to truly understand the WHAT and WHY of addition with regrouping.  

The first day of teaching this skill, my students receive unifix cubes and they learn what regrouping looks like.  You can also use place value blocks but I like that unifix cubes can be pulled apart and pushed together.  We always start with a two-digit number on top and a one-digit number on the bottom.  

Here's how I teach it:

• Materials needed: manipulatives (unifix cubes, place value blocks or even popsicle sticks and beans) and a place value mat
• Build the top number with manipulatives, then add the second number on the same mat.
• When you fill a ten frame, you need to regroup, make a ten.
• Count your tens and ones to find your sum.

As I am going through this lesson, I have students who seem to be able to grasp the concept, come up and show the class how to do it all while explaining what they are doing.  When students explain their thinking and thought process, it is extremely powerful.

After a couple of days using the place value mat to teach, I'll transition them to paper and pencil while still giving access to unifix cubes and the mat for problem-solving.

Download the mat!

 Make sure to download a place value mat before going any further!

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Quick tip: Have students highlight the ones place for a visual reminder of where to start solving their math problems.

Be watchful of those who just want to take the two-digit number and count on.  Although this is a practical way to solve these problems, you must also be thinking about the concept that you are trying to teach them…regrouping.

Next, we move to two-digit numbers on top and bottom.  Of course, we go back to the math manipulatives to help them see and understand the process of regrouping.

We continue to highlight the ones place at this stage.  I want to make it a habit for my students to always start with the ones place first.  This concept is more complicated for them then we realize.  They are trained to read and write from left to right so starting them on the right side of the problem tends to cause some students to struggle.

As I stated at the top of this post, I am a firm believer in teaching students multiple ways to solve problems because you never know what will connect with them.  Here are a few more ways that I have shown my students how to solve addition with regrouping problems.

2. Post-it Note Method

• Materials needed : paper, pencil, post-it notes and scissors
• Start with ones place and write the sum on the post it note
• Cut apart the post-it note between the tens and ones
• Place the tens post-it half on top of the tens row in the addition problem and find the sum

3. Break It Up Method

• Materials Needed : paper and pencil
• Write the addition problem horizontally
• Break apart your numbers into into expanded form (write it out)
• Add your tens, then ones to get the sum.

4. Slice & Split Method

• Materials needed : paper and pencil
• Write the problem vertically.
• Draw a line between the tens and oens.
• Add the ones, and split the sum into the tens and ones rows.
• Add the tens to get the sum.

Addition With Regrouping Resources for Your Classroom

Once your students find a method or two that they feel comfortable using, it's important to provide plenty of opportunities to practice!  Here are some resources that you can start using in your classroom today.

5. Math Puzzles

Each puzzle focuses on a math skill. There are 10 pieces to each puzzle. Each puzzle piece has a math problem for the student to solve. Then the student assembles the puzzle by putting their pieces in order from least to greatest. Don't leave without grabbing the six free math puzzles at the top of this post!

6. Math Toothy

Toothy® task kits are highly engaging task card math games or math centers that allow students to practice math skills and answer questions in a fun, motivating way. The answers on the back of the math task cards make the activity self-paced and self-correcting.

7. 1st & 2nd Grade Math Centers

Keep your students learning and diving deep with their math skills all year through the use of engaging, rigorous, and hands on center activities that your students will be sure to love! Our Lucky to Learn Math Curriculum also has hands-on, collaborative activities to practice addition with regrouping. Check out this addition strategies mini lesson that features a fun theme – pizza shop! Hands-on, practical activities will help increase student comprehension. You can check out more addition strategy mini lessons and activities here .

All Access member? Download free.

Lucky to Learn Math Activities

Our Lucky to Learn Math curriculum features anchor charts for each addition strategy. You can print them out to use during whole group instruction, and even give each student a copy to add to their personal math notebooks! And, FYI, these curriculum units are way more than just anchor charts!

Each unit includes:

• Daily teaching slides
• Daily lesson plans
• Independent activities
• Differentiated options
• Partner games
• Daily exit tickets
• Assessments

All Access members- Download all Lucky to Learn Math Addition wit h Regrouping resources FREE here.

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35 Comments

I love these ideas!! Thank you so much!

You are welcome, Angel!

Angie, loved, loved, loved your scope! This is an amazing follow up post. Pinned and shared it so that others can see these great strategies in action. I would love to see a follow up post involving the strategies you use for subtraction with regrouping! Thank you for being AMAZING! Sebrina Burke's Special Kids

Thank you for leaving such sweet and thoughtful feedback, Sebrina! I'm so glad you caught my scope too! I plan to bring a subtraction with regrouping post this coming Monday!

By scope do you mean how you started with blocks and then moved to pencil paper strategies? Don’t want to sound silly but want to clarify? Thank you for sharing!

​Hi! We would love to help you with this question, please email us at [email protected] and we will do our best to answer it for you! Thanks so much!

Bailey Jordan Lucky Little Learners

You did a great job presenting these strategies! I watched your presentation over my morning coffee and walked away with some great ideas. I've never used the highlighter strategy; love how visual that is and that it costs nothing to add to our classroom routines. Love your place value mat too! Thanks for sharing your hard work! 🙂

You're welcome Jo-Anne! Glad these could be helpful to you! There's nothing better than a free and practical tip, right?!

Thank you so much for all you do and for sharing it! It is so appreciated! ?

Thank YOU for taking the time to tell me that, Karyl! I appreciate you leaving me feedback…it keeps me inspired!

Thank you so very much!!! I will be incorporating these into my unit. We are starting subtraction with regrouping now. I would really LOVE to know if you have some wonderful ideas for that too!

Hi Leslie! I have some big plans for subtraction with regrouping and I plan to do a scope on that for Math Motivation Monday this coming Monday! I hope you can tune in!

This is brilliant! Thank you for the mat freebie! I think this is EXACTLY what my struggling learners need, a different visual and it's perfect!

Hi Angie, thank you for the great tips! You really make my day. I simply love how you use the manipulatives and make Maths so fun! The manipulative I use most are the unifix cubes but the post-it idea is simply awesome – so easy and so visual!

I’m a kindergarten teacher and love these ideas. I know my kiddos are slowly getting regrouping but I definitely want to show them some of the cool Ideas to show place value when adding! 🙂

Wow! I love these ideas. I teach first grade, and the concepts is always so foreign to the students. Thank you so much!

excellent.. thanks alot.. i have a struggling child, i hope these works..

Omg, I love these idea to teach regrouping, my students are engage in the lesson rather than me the teacher have the load, thanks very much for the idea

Thank you so much for putting the videos on there on how to teach regrouping. I am a visual learner and seeing a video of it really really helps!

I’m so glad that I found this! I remember using this in Kindergarten/First Grade and it helped my babies out so much!

I am now in 3rd grade and was wondering if you have a place value mat for 3 digits?

I have a place value set for second graders that may be useful for you. I have placed the link below for you to check out and see if it’s similar to what you are looking for! Thank you! http://bit.ly/2Nya0xI

Angie Olson Lucky Little Learners

What strategy can you use if a student is adding 2 digit numbers in error. For example if they add 83+39 and get 1112 for the answer.

Hi Kandace. I suggest taking out a place value mat (I have a free template on my website) and showing the student how to solve with hands on manipulatives. Hope that helps!

great idea!

I did the post -it technique with my small group today and they loved it! One, they got to use scissors; and two they were able to physically see why the tens had to move over to the tens spot. Hopefully a few of them will be able to carry over this concept into the general education setting. =)

HI Angie, A few years ago you send an email with a subtraction and addition round up. It was like a slide show with problem after problem. My kids LOVED it. I can’t find it now! Do you recall this? If so do you know how I might get a copy?

Hi Jane. Thanks for reaching out. I do remember what file you are talking about but I can’t seem to find it anywhere! I’m so sorry!

thank so much for the brilliant ideas and strategies

Wonderful ideas.

Well, this is an awesome post and written very well. Your point of view is very good.

I love these ideas. I’m going to try them with my 2nd graders who are struggling. Thanks.

Love, Love, Love Thank You!

I have used many of these strategies with my second graders. I am now retired and watching my 4th grade granddaughter doing some sort of crazy stuff that must be Common Core, though South Carolina supposedly no longer uses Common Core. It is so complicated, and I want to jump in and simplify it for her.

Hi I love your work it is very helpful in teaching my 2nd grader. I have a question though, his teacher sent a uestion paper and in the end of the word problem ther is a question justify why you used the strategy as compared to the rest. the base 10 blocks, number line, expanded form are all strategies for regrouping. how do I help him Justify his choice and provide and explanation

Hi there. There are many strategies for regrouping, and some are more efficient for different equations than others. I would ask your child why they selected the strategy they used. It might be because that strategy is the one the child feels most comfortable with, or the strategy that is easiest for that specific equation.

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Anchor Charts

• Math Anchor Charts

Math Anchor Charts: Templates For Math Success

By Mary Montero

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Anchor charts have always been one of the most popular topics here on the blog, probably because I’m so passionate about using and sharing them. As a newer teacher, I wasn’t sure exactly how to use them. We’d often create anchor charts once and then never use them again, which kiiiind of defeats the purpose of an “anchor” chart that’s designed to hold student learning and serve as a reference point for the entire unit (or sometimes entire year!).

Now we create anchor charts together as a class and actually use them . I typically have one dedicated section of wall space for reading and writing anchor charts and one dedicated section for math anchor charts. I have found it’s best to invest in  Post-It Note Anchor Chart Paper  (Amazon affiliate link) and hang layers of anchor charts throughout specific units, which we can then flip back to as-needed. As often as I can, I make the anchor charts interactive, like this cause and effect anchor chart and my literal and inferential anchor charts .

Math Anchor Chart Templates

You’ve been asking for it, and it’s finally here! This is the  complete collection of math anchor charts  and quick reference guides to use with your students during math lessons. Each anchor chart includes visuals, step by step directions, and more. So you’re ready to create beautiful anchor charts in third, fourth, and fifth grades.

Math Anchor Chart Templates and Quick Reference Guides

Don’t worry if you aren’t sure exactly what to put on your anchor charts. I have shared many examples here on the blog, as well as Instagram . Pinterest is always a great source too! But to make things even easier on you, I have this complete collection of math anchor charts and quick reference guides to use with your students during math lessons. Each one is inspired by the well-loved anchor charts I have featured on my blog for years and includes visuals, step-by-step directions, and more so you’re ready to create beautiful anchor charts in third, fourth, and fifth grades. There are 51 templates to cover 19 introductory math skills and 34 advanced math skills !

Free Quick Reference Guides

Don’t need the WHOLE anchor chart quite yet? Here are two totally free math quick reference guides to download that include tons of quick reviews of many math topics. There are two different versions… one that is great for third grade and one that is perfect for 4th and 5th grade! I love to have these on hand during math warm-ups, math workshops, etc. so that if students need a quick reminder, it is right at their fingertips. These aren’t nearly as detailed as the anchor charts, but they’re super useful! This quick reference guide also includes multiple skills on one page whereas the main anchor charts have one skill per page.

Other Ways To Use Math Anchor Charts

In addition to creating anchor charts together, students can glue the templates into their interactive notebooks and take notes during lessons.

These templates are also great to turn into booklets and use as quick reference guides all year long. They make great companions for Math Skill of the Day Weekly Journals in 3rd , 4th , or 5th grades .

If you don’t want each student to have a reference booklet, you can also print the anchor charts in black ink on colorful paper to use as mini anchor charts for centers during math workshop.

More Great Math Posts

If you’re looking for more ways to create rigorous, engaging instruction during math workshop, here are some other favorite posts!

• Anchor Chart Tips and Tricks
• How To Plan Math Workshop in Upper Elementary
• Must-Have Math Manipulatives
• Math Projects for Differentiated Hands-On Learning

Mary Montero

I’m so glad you are here. I’m a current gifted and talented teacher in a small town in Colorado, and I’ve been in education since 2009. My passion (other than my family and cookies) is for making teachers’ lives easier and classrooms more engaging.

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Where Education Meets Fun!

First Grade Math Practice – Addition Strategies

First Grade Addition strategies are the foundation for many other math skills. When you teach addition to your first graders, you’ll want to be aware of the Common Core / TEKs standards to help your students get the most out of your lessons.

To see the First Grade Addition Strategies Standards for the Common Core and the TEKS, click the image above.

Vertical Alignment for First Grade Addition Strategies is so important when planning your lessons. You need to know what your students should already know and what they should know when their first grade year is over. Vertical alignment looks at the Kindergarten Standards as well as the Second Grade Standards. It sets you and your students up for SUCCESS! Click the image above to see the Vertical Alignment.

3. The Breakdown: First Grade Addition Strategies

When first graders leave first grade, they should be able to:

• add within 20 using pictures, words and numbers (use make a ten strategy when possible)
• solve word problems within 20 (word problems will be covered in a separate post)
• solve addition number sentences and word problems with numbers missing in all positions (communitive property)  2 + 4 = [ ]; 3 + [ ] = 7; [ ] + 2 = 8
• compose ten with two or more addends without concrete objects
• Use the associative property to solve problems Example:   3 + 8 = 11 (3 + 7 + 1 = 11) Use 3 + 7 = 10 so 10 + 1 = 11
• Use addition Fact Fluency Strategies: count on, make a ten, associative property, related facts, doubles/doubles +1
• Understand the Equal Sign (3 = 6 + 6 / 7 + 2 = 2 + 7)

There are a few more objectives which will be covered in the Word Problems post.

Students also should know:  

• counting forward within 20
• counting on strategy

If your students don’t know or remember these strategies, they are easy for most kids to relearn.

First Grade Addition Strategies Recommended Progression:

• Review ways to Make Ten (Friends of Ten)
• Addition Doubles and Doubles +1
• Addition to 10, 12, 15, 18 and 20 (use make a ten strategy when possible)
• Add 3 Numbers ( find a 10)
• Missing Addends

Addition Strategies Manipulatives – The words “ Using CONCRETE MODELS “ are used over and over in the standards when the focus is on addition and subtraction. Make sure you have some kind of manipulatives for your student to use to practice. Every student should start with them, but some won’t need them as much as others. Students should use manipulatives as long as necessary. Students with learning disabilities may always need manipulatives. For this reason, they may be part of their IEP.

The RIGHT Manipulatives: 

• Two Sided Counters
• Unifix Cubes
• Snap Cubes 
• 6 Colored Disks

2 Sided Counters, Snap Cubes and 6 Colored Counters are my favorites!  But, use whatever you have.

Ahead of time, place 20 Snap Cubes in a baggie, ready to pass out to students. (10 of one color & 10 of another to show the two addends.)

For the disks, 30 per bag, 3 different colors. These work great for Add 3 Numbers or Compose a 10 using 3 addends.

4. The Teach: Let’s start at the beginning – Basic Addition Vocabulary

Sum – The answer to an addition problem

Addend – the numbers added together to get the sum

Plus Sign -Putting together

Equal Sign – Same value

ADDITION TERMS

Click the image to grab these for FREE .

Mini Lesson Idea:

Create an Anchor Chart and label the following. Show horizontal and vertical number sentences:

• Addition Sign
• Number Sentence / Equation / Solution Sentence (used interchangeably)
• Missing Addend

Use this formal vocabulary when discussing addition strategies.

Anchor Chart Information

Create an Anchor Chart by writing a solution sentence on a large piece of chart paper.  After going over each of the vocabulary terms from above, have students help you label each of the parts of an addition Solution Sentence. 

Compose with 2 or More Addends – A Fun Addition Strategy Activity: using concrete or pictorial models.  

Directions:  Group your students into threes. Give each student a set of 4 cubes or disks.  Each student has a different color. Have the students number off. Student number 1 adds cubes to the counting mat (4 max to that other will be able to add to the mat). Then student 2 does the same. Finally, student number 3 adds the final amount to reach the sum of ten.  

Example:  Student 1: 4 cubes, Student 2: 2 Cubes, Student 3: To reach the sum of ten, student number 3 must add 4 cubes since 4 + 2 + 4 = 10. Students will record the number sentence on the recording sheet provided.  

Click the image below to grab this fun activity for FREE .

First Grade Addition – Basic Facts Strategies:

The following is a list of the Basic Fact Strategies mentioned in the Standards. Each has an idea for teaching the skill.

Working with the Friend’s of Ten –

This is a kindergarten standard, but in my experience, most first grade students do not have these memorized. Once they do memorize them, addition and subtraction get a little bit easier. I make sure to offer lots of practice with the Friends of Ten. They love this skill! Below are some resources I offer in my TpT Store that have been effective for working with ways to make ten.

Counting On Strategy –

These posters explain how to use the counting on strategy for basic addition and for solving for the missing addend. Click the image to grab these FREE Posters !

Bridge to Ten – First Grade Addition Strategies –

Another clever strategy to use is Bridge to ten. This strategy works with sums over ten.  This works best when using blank ten frames. The idea for bridge to ten is to add enough to one added to get to ten. You do this by taking from the other addend. Then it is easier to add using a 10. Example:  7 + 8 = 5 + (2 + 8) = 5 + 10 = 15. The Associative Property of Addition is used here. When using ten frames it is easy to see this in action. See image below. This is an interactive math notebook that is available here .  

Related Facts or Fact Families –

Knowing Fact Families, makes addition much easier to grasp. It goes to the relationships of numbers. The standards no longer use the term Fact Families. Instead they are referred to as Related Facts. Since families are related, they are still fact families to me. And kids enjoy the term as well. The addition facts display the Communitive Property of Addition .

Doubles and Doubles Plus One –

Kids learn their doubles pretty fast because there are really only 10 facts to learn and they probably already know 1+1, 2 + 2 ,5 + 5, and 10 + 10 . That leaves only 6 facts to learn.  But, kids really start learning their facts when they can apply the doubles strategy and add one to one of the addends. If 5 + 5 = 10, then 5 + 6 = 11 (doubles plus one) If 5 + 5 = 10, then 5 + 7 = 12 (doubles plus 2) I like to think of it as adding one to each addend making it 6 + 6 = 12.  This actually turns the number sentence into another double. 

Grab a FREE resource below.

Addition Strategy – Missing Addends  –

Kids struggle with this skill the most because it abstract. Using manipulatives help , a lot!  It also helps to start teaching this difficult skill right away. While you are working on sums to ten, switch around an easy one, like 9 + 1. Say, We know that 9 + 1 = 10, right? Then I bet you can figure out 9 + [ ] = 10. As soon as your students learn the process of addition, put missing addend math centers in the rotation. They will grow so much by practicing daily. 

5. The Practice: For kids to have fact fluency, they must practice, practice practice. Is your teacher toolkit full of fun and engaging ways for your students practice addition facts?

There are so many ways to practice addition facts. Using games is one of my favorites.  Kids LOVE games, and when they are practicing, they sometimes don’t realize that they are learning! Here’s a fun Free resource for practicing Doubles and Doubles +1! Click on the image to grab it.

Another fun game, in which Flash Cards are used, is Around the World. It’s a very competitive game where one student starts by facing off with another student as the teacher flashes the card. The student who answers first gets to move on to the next student. The student that makes it all the way around the room, back to where they started, is the winner. Since you get to choose which flash cards are used, you get to determine the level of difficulty .

More Addition Practice Resources: 

Click here to read my Blog Post about Using Boom Cards.  

6. The Small Group Instruction: From Manipulatives to Memory

I like to see my students go from counting objects such as fingers, counters, cubes, etc., to committing the facts to memory. Especially sums to 10. This is a great objective to have for your small group. In order to do this, you need to scaffold their instruction . If necessary, start with sums to 5, then to 10, then 12, 15 then 20. If they learn the sums to 10, all the others will be easier. So, focus your energy there. Sums to 10. Use Flash Cards and Practice, Practice, Practice. Give awards for students showing growth. Grab these FREE Student Incentives .

  7. The Learning Centers:  Basic Addition Facts Practice

If you are like me, you always have something related to addition and subtraction in your math rotations. First of all, it’s a necessity.  And second of all, it is EASY to do.

I strongly believe in adding Missing Addend centers as soon as possible. This means that your students are practicing addition , but at a higher level . And, working with missing addends is actually working with subtraction, as well. Bridge to Ten or activities that use the associative property of addition are also engaging practice for learning centers. 

Here are some great resources for learning centers from my friend Carol (The Chocolate Teacher)  

Online Games:

Splashlearn has many Addition Games

8. The Fun – Shake and Spill Basic Addition Facts.

Shake and Spill is a fun and easy addition activity teachers can put together in a snap!  Grab this FREE Shake and Spill Recording Sheet to learn how.  

This Shake ‘n Spill Activity requires 2 Sided Counters . Use my trusted link to check them out.

More Fun Addition Resources: 

Don’t forget to pin the image below to your Teaching Resources board for future use.

Click on the link below to sign up for notifications of new posts from the Breaking Down the Standards Series AND Grab a Free Add 3 Numbers Make a Ten Activity! 

Thank you for stopping by!

-Carrie Lutz

Disclosure: Carrie Lutz is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a small commission on products purchased through Amazon.com and other affiliated websites. You do not pay more when purchasing products through these links.

Hi, I really like your math posters for vocabulary and strategies. I’ve looked in your TpT store and can’t find any. I would like all of my posters to match the ones that you sent out in your subscription email today: Addition vocabulary and counting up strategy. Do you have more that I’m not seeing?

Hi Ali, I created all of the freebies especially for the blog posts. The subtraction post is next and will include the matching posters with subtraction terms. You’ll get an email when that post goes live. It’s taking about 2 weeks for me to complete them. After the subtraction post will be the Word Problems post which will also have a couple of posters. Thank you so much for your interest. I appreciate it so much! -Carrie

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5 Brilliant Strategies for Addition You Absolutely Must Teach in Third Grade

5 Strategies for Addition you MUSt teach

Strategies for addition #1: the standard algorithm.

Pros and Cons

Strategies for addition #2: vertical addition.

Strategies for Addition #3: The Visual Model

Strategies for Addition #4: The arrow way

Strategies for Addition #5 : The Open Number line Way

Resources for you

Click the images to be taken to the resources!

Hi, I'm Karen!

I help teachers like you motivate your students to love math, increase their creativity and their self confidence!  I live in Geneva, IL with my kids, Ellie and Liam, my dog Freida and my cats Rascal and Molly.

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Math Anchor Chart Ideas You're Going to Want to Steal Right Now

Written by Jeanne Sager

So you’re finishing up a math lesson, and you want to give your students a chance to review concepts. Or maybe you’re smack dab in the middle, and you want to help your classroom of little mathematicians recognize their learning goals. Time to pull out the markers and chart paper — it’s time to make math anchor charts with your students!

What Is an Anchor Chart in Math?

Just like anchor charts in other subjects , anchor charts in math serve as supporting tools to help your students with concepts they’re learning during a lesson. Hung on the wall of the classroom, anchor charts are built with your students and cover core concepts and make for an easy visual for students to refer back to while they move ahead into independent work.

There are several types of anchor charts, but one type comes especially in handy in math classes:

• Strategy/process anchor charts  — These charts remind students of how to work through a process.  You may focus your chart on new math content or concepts such as how to find the area of a triangle or how to processes such as creating number lines to solve an addition problem.

You may also use vocabulary anchor charts in math — to remind students of the new terms they’ve learned and how to apply them.

Math Anchor Chart Ideas

The key to any successful anchor chart is how it applies to your students and their needs. But these math anchor chart ideas may spark ideas and provide a framework! And to get you started, we’ve created  anchor chart borders, title, and lettering guidance  to make your anchor charts look good AND stand out.

Spy-Themed Math Anchor Chart

When in doubt, make a math lesson about spies! Challenge your students to be spies to spot the missing side of a triangle, square, or rectangle. Houston, Texas teacher Velckis, who goes by @yourteacherbestie on Instagram , shared this James Bond — or is it Among Us ? — inspired idea for teaching students about area and perimeter on an anchor chart.

Introducing area and perimeter in the next few weeks? These resources will help!

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Math Key Words Anchor Chart

Vocabulary anchor charts can be just as beneficial in math class as any other subject, as Chicago teacher Habeeba (@baiginelementary on Instagram) shows in this fun visual reminder of the meaning of words that relate to equivalent fractions . When building an anchor chart for math around vocabulary, getting those keywords front and center, along with definitions, will help your students in the same way that a math word wall might.

Add a Friendly Character to Your Anchor Chart

A friendly character on your anchor chart can help ease the stress of trying to learn something new. Second grade teacher Anna Demeritt (@annainroom123 on Instagram) added a “Mr. Turkey” to this regrouping anchor chart so her students have something extra to smile at when they refer back to the chart.

Yo, I’ll Solve It Math Anchor Chart

This anchor chart idea for teaching first graders how to solve addition problems comes from Rindy Roberts, who goes by @learningwithheart on Instagram. Based on the Vanilla Ice song Ice, Ice Baby, she jokes that it makes her feel very old when her firsties don’t know the song, but it gave us a great idea: Use this lyric for call and response in your classroom and teach your kiddos what to say when they’ve got a math problem … Yo, I’ll Solve It (by referring to the anchor chart!).

Order of Operations Math Anchor Chart

Some of us learned the mnemonic PEMDAS for the order of operations in math — standing Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction. Others, like teacher Ms Rorquist (@msbasicteacher on Instagram), go with BEDMAS, or Brackets, Exponents, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction. Either way, an order of operations anchor chart can help your students commit the order to memory!

Measurement Anchor Charts

Some learners are better at visualizing size comparisons in their heads than others, and that’s what makes a visual reference so powerful for students. Teacher Christina Hermer (@hangingaroundinprimary) shared this fun measurement  math anchor chart with us, and it makes the concepts so much easier to recall!

Try these fun measuring resources!

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Line Plotting Anchor Charts

Line plotting gives students a simple way to represent a whole lot of data all at once. We love how fifth-grade teacher Ms Olufemi (@choosefifth on Instagram), combined keywords and examples in this line plotting anchor chart to give her students a full overview of the process.

Want more fun ways to help your students understand how to plot numbers? Try these resources!

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Space-Themed Anchor Charts

Do you have a math anchor chart that was a big success in the classroom? Tell us about it!

Banner image: shutterstock/rachel k h.

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Two-Digit Addition and Subtraction Strategies and Models

Second grade is a very important year where students develop fluency with two-digit addition and subtraction . It is the year that we work on a multitude of addition and subtraction strategies that students can use to solve problems. We spend a lot of time discussing a variety of strategies, using many different models, and doing mental math.

Why? To develop students’ flexibility when solving math problems with addition and subtraction concepts .

So, how do you teach two-digit addition and subtraction and develop flexible thinking using a variety of models and addition and subtraction strategies?

Second Grade Common Core Standards for Two-Digit and Three-Digit Addition and Subtraction

Let’s take a look at the Common Core Standard for two-digit addition & subtraction. This will help us anchor the below discussion.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.NBT.B.5 Fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction.

And, the standard for three-digit addition and subtraction, to show where we’re headed:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.NBT.B.7 Add and subtract within 1000, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method. Understand that in adding or subtracting three-digit numbers, one adds or subtracts hundreds and hundreds, tens and tens, ones and ones; and sometimes it is necessary to compose or decompose tens or hundreds.

The Traditional Algorithm for Addition and Subtraction

Nowhere in the above two standards does it say anything about the standard algorithm that we all learned in school (most likely with the language of “carry” and “borrow”), nor is the standard algorithm directly addressed in the Second Grade Common Core Standards. Read to the end to find out how I address the standard algorithm in our classroom.

Are you interested in a free sampler of some of my Two-Digit Addition and Subtraction Products ?

What are the Addition and Subtraction Strategies and How are They Different From Models

If you are familiar with my Addition & Subtraction Word Problems, you may have noticed that I make a big distinction between the strategies used when solving problems and the models students employ with those strategies.

Strategies are usually how students approach and manipulate numbers.

Models are how the strategies are organized on paper so that students can explain or see the strategy.

When looking at the standards above, I can see that the strategies are clearly noted in the standard:

In 2.NBT.B.5  and the strategies are:

• place value
• properties of operations
• relationship between addition and subtraction

Standard 2.NBT.B.7 even notes that the models or drawings (which I also call models) are separate from the strategies that are based on:

As you can see, the strategies are clearly outlined in the standards. Now within each of the above general strategy categories, there really are many different strategies that students can use and you can label them whatever you’d like in your classroom. I like to label them with students’ names as an easy reference. That way, we can refer to Samantha’s strategy when solving a problem. Or you can label the strategy with the action that the student takes in the problem (for example: Add Tens First ).

However, I still make a distinction between the strategy and the model. Why? Because students can use multiple strategies with one model.

There’s no one right way to use the model, as long as the student can explain his or her thinking. The models (or drawings) merely give students a tool to explain their thinking on paper or with manipulatives.

The thinking, or what students do with the numbers, is the strategy. What they use to show it to you is the model.

In all honesty, I’m not always consistent in labeling something a strategy or a model. I try to be, but like you, I’m human and sometimes mix them up, especially when I’m in the moment with students. It’s a learning process and something I’m continually reflecting on throughout the years. All that to say, you may see a few things labeled one way and question its label. Go ahead and question it, think about it, mull it over, and figure out whether it’s accurate. All of this is still new to many of us.

What do students need to know before using these strategies?

The above strategies are very powerful if students can add them to their toolkit when approaching two-digit addition and subtraction. However, to effectively use the above strategies, students need a few things in place.

Addition and Subtraction Facts – Students need pretty good fluency with their addition and subtraction facts. Do they need to have all of them memorized with speed? No. However, if students are spending too much time trying to figure out an addition fact and it’s keeping them from focusing on the strategy because they forget what they were doing, then they need more fluency with their addition and subtraction facts.  My Automaticity Assessments help students practice their facts by strategy.

Ability to find friendly numbers – At the beginning of the year, we spend a long time developing fluency with 10 as a benchmark number . Although we do it at the beginning of the year to help with our math fact fluency, it is also beneficial when students begin their journey with adding and subtracting two-digit numbers. Students need to know how to get to the next friendly number, which is essentially their 10s facts but applying them to two-digit numbers to find the next ten.

Adding 10 to a number – We start our two-digit addition unit with a lot of practice adding and subtracting ten from a number. This is a foundation skill in both my two-digit addition products as well as my two-digit subtraction products . Students must see the pattern of adding 10 to a number.

Place Value – To do two-digit addition, students need a strong foundation in the concept of ones and tens and what it means to break a number apart into ones and tens. From the first day of school, we are doing Daily Math exercises that build fluency with place value as well as skip counting by 10s from any number.

Do I teach the traditional algorithm?

Yes and no. Yes, I teach the concept of regrouping and yes, I do teach students to move toward efficiency when adding and subtracting. That could include the traditional algorithm if they can understand the meaning behind it.

Students do not need to use the standard algorithm until fourth grade ( according to the Common Core Standards ). Can they do it earlier?  Maybe.

I expose them to it in second grade as a model they could use; however, we don’t spend a lot of time focused on it, because I want students to develop strategies for solving problems, not be tied to one model. When we do work with the traditional algorithm, we attach a lot of language and meaning to it, generally tying it to work we’ve already done, like our work with base-10 blocks.

Achor Charts for Two-Digit Addition and Subtraction

Here are some adding and subtracting charts I’ve used over the past couple of years to illustrate some of the models and strategies below.

The above image demonstrates some second-grade math subtraction strategies that I have gone through with students.

Models for Two-Digit Addition and Two-Digit Subtraction

Below are a few models that we use with two-digit addition or subtraction. Are these the only models you can use? No, this is not an exhaustive list.  They are what I have found useful in the classroom for students to practice and use to build conceptual understanding and number sense.

Number Lines for Two-Digit Addition and Subtraction

When I introduce students to paper/pencil models, I usually start with number lines. An open number line is very flexible. Students can make jumps of one or ten (or more) and easily manipulate it to show their mathematical thinking.

I usually help students get to the nearest 10 or friendly or benchmark number when using a number line because it is easier to make jumps of 10. That is an example of the difference between a model and a strategy.  The model is the number line.  The strategy is making jumps of 10.

Teaching how to use number lines when using 10 to add +9 and +8 facts , solidifies this strategy when students are adding larger two-digit numbers.

Remember, the number line is the model and can be used with various strategies. Modeling and practicing using a number line with easier problems will help students when using a number line with more difficult problems.

One of the daily activities that we do with numbers lines is our Daily Math . This is a whiteboard sheet that we go through daily. The number line at the bottom helps students solidify their understanding of both how to use a number line and how “make 100 or make 1000”.

Here are a few more examples of how we use number lines in the classroom.

This is from my Roll & Spin Math Stations .  In this activity, students practice making jumps of 10 and 100 up a number line.  

There are also versions where students subtract 10 and 100 down a number line, too.  One of the skills students need to be successful on number lines is the ability to make jumps of 10 and 100.

This is an example from one of our Addition & Subtraction Word Problems where students had to figure out a separate start unknown problem.  This student started at 15 and counted 35 jumps and then took one away at the end.  This is also a great example of compensation (see below) because the student added one to the 34 to make easier jumps and then took it away at the end.

This is from my Second Grade Cut & Paste Math Activities .  In this activity, students are practicing how to add up, starting at the smallest number and figuring out who to get to the larger number by jumping to the friendly numbers.  This student started at 19, jumped to 20, then made jumps of 10 to 60, and made a jump of 3.  The student added their jumps together to get 44.

The above are a few examples from my Two-Digit Addition Math Stations .  My students needed more direct practice with number lines and making jumps, despite all of our whole group practice.  So, I gave them the directions and students followed them on the number lines.

A more recent resource that I developed to help students develop number fluency is the Make 100 and Make 1000 resource. This resource has MANY activities where students practice making 100 and making 1000. Number lines are one of the activities.

I also have a whole blog post on how to use a number line with even more examples of how to develop number line fluency in the classroom.

Base-10 Blocks Models for Two-Digit Addition and Subtraction

Base-10 blocks are another model I teach students to use; however, I generally teach students to draw the base-10 blocks. We do use real foam blocks in class, but I try to move away from them as quickly as possible.

Why? Students will always have pencils and paper to solve problems, but they won’t always have manipulatives available to them. Using base-10 blocks also takes a lot of time. I don’t mind spending the time on them, for students who need them, but I also want to push students toward more efficient tools.

Here are a few examples of how we use base-10 blocks:

The above two are using base-10 blocks by drawing out the tens as “sticks” as we refer to them in our classroom.  These particular students were having difficulty counting over 100 by tens, so I had them draw each number in tens, then count by tens until they got to 100, then start over counting by 10s again.  Not only did this help them add up numbers beyond 100, but it also gave them more expense with our base-10 number system.

The above example is from my Two-Digit Addition Math Stations again and is just a basic problem – answer matching with base-10 block representations.

The Number Line blog post also has an interesting visual activity to help students transition from base-10 blocks to number lines.

Math Strategies for Two-Digit Addition and Subtraction

As noted above, the main three addition and subtraction strategies stated in the standards are:

Below are a few strategies that we use to solve two-digit addition problems. Most of them are based on place value strategies as I find those tend to be easier for students to understand and apply. Again, these are how students manipulate the numbers in the problem to make it easier to solve.

Keep in mind that no one strategy is the “right” strategy for every student for every problem. Some problems lend themselves to certain strategies because of the numbers. Students may also switch between strategies within the same problem, depending on how they’re manipulating the numbers. The key thing to consider is if the student can explain his or her thinking when solving a problem.

Break Apart or Ungroup (Place Value)

This strategy requires a bit more mental math practice, but it can be so powerful. The basic idea is that the number is broken apart into tens and ones and then, either using a number line, base-10 blocks, or just numbers, students manipulate the pieces to add or subtract the numbers.

Breaking the number part or ungrouping it helps students see the value of place value. The tens place is not just 4. Its value is 40 or 4 tens.

One resource that helps develop this strategy is the Number Talks book  ( affiliate link ).  We do number talks throughout the year, starting with addition facts and moving into two-digit addition and subtraction by the end of the year. I love seeing the strategies that my students can come up with! The Number Talk book is also a great book that helps develop listening skills.

Think about problem 64-47. Students break apart the problem into 50+14-7-40 and take away the parts by place value. I’d probably start with the 14-7, but students could start anywhere that makes sense for them.

The above examples come from my Two-Digit Addition Math Stations and illustrate how students can break apart numbers and add up each place value.  Breaking apart is also called ungrouping or decomposing, depending on the math program you use.

Did you notice that in one of the problems above, the student added 60 +40 and got 106, yet he wrote the correct answer to the problem?  What do you think was going on with this student?  Do you then he couldn’t add 60+40, made a silly mistake, or is there another reason he wrote the 106?  Seeing students interact with these types of strategies will give you a place to start conversations with them about their mathematical thinking and the errors within their computation.

One more example from some Addition Task Cards where students only break apart the second number and then make jumps of 10 and 1 using 100s and 1000s charts.  Although we give plenty of practice using a 100s chart in first grade, I find that students don’t necessarily transfer their learning to larger numbers in second grade.

Add Tens to Tens and Ones to Ones (Place Value)

This is very similar to the break part strategies, except without breaking apart the numbers. Students can add the parts of the number (the tens or the ones) together mentally because they know their addition facts. We basically use a v-model to draw lines connecting the tens and add or subtract those parts.

Here is one example of how we’ve used it in the classroom:

Subtract Tens, Subtract Ones (Place Value)

Similar to adding tens to tens and ones to ones, students subtract each place value separately and then subtract the ones from the tens (or add it). There are basically two ways to use this strategy. Students can decompose the ten or students can use negative numbers.

One way that I use this strategy with students is with negative numbers. I know we don’t teach negative numbers in second grade, but for some students, this is really a way that they understand and can hold onto more than the other strategies.  You can see examples of this in the second and third anchor charts above.

Think about 64-47. If I subtract 4-7, I get -3. I tell students that the bigger number has the minus sign in front of it and so it still has more that needs to be taken away. Students then subtract 60-40, get 20 and subtract there more to get 17.

Count Down / Think Addition (Count Up) / Add Up (Relationship between Addition & Subtraction or Place Value)

I’m not exactly sure whether this strategy is about the relationship between addition and subtraction or place value. The Think Addition Strategy is similar (if not the same as) Count Up or Add Up. This strategy is also very similar to the Break Apart Strategy, in that students need to break at least one of the numbers apart to sound up or down by the parts of the number.

Although students can count by ones, I highly encourage you to help them move toward more efficient strategies and count by tens and then ones. Using a hundred chart gives students practice moving by 10s up and down the chart. A hundred chart is sort of like a compressed number line.  See the above photo with the 100s and 1000s charts.

Here are a few examples of counting up:

The above two examples are just ones we did on the whiteboard and I had students write them down in their notebooks.

The following image is a page from my Two-Digit Subtraction Flap Books .  These Flap Books go through several different models and strategies and give students practice with vocabulary and explaining their thinking.

The thing I LOVE about these flap books is that students can dive deep into one aspect of two-digit subtraction and attach language to the numbers and processes that they use.

Here is an anchor chart that we created to explain the Count Up Strategy for subtraction.

Use Compensation (Properties of Operations)

This last strategy is unlike any of the previous ones. It basically has students make sure that the numbers are balanced within the problem and that they’re accounting for all of the parts. It’s a precursor to algebra and a great strategy for mental math.

There are a couple of different ways to use compensation, but the basic idea is that you add or subtract some of one number and add it to the other number to create a friendly number. You have to keep track of what was added or taken away and account for it somehow in the problem.

Compensation is especially useful for numbers that are close to friendly numbers, although it can be used for any number. For example, 68 – 39 could be transformed into 69 – 40. I’ve added one to each number. The value of +1 and -1 is 0, so I haven’t changed the problem at all.

Here’s another example: 53 + 38. I might add 53 + 40 and get 93, but because I added two to the 38 to get to 40, I’ll need to subtract two from 93 to get 91.

The basic idea with compensation is that you are adjusting one part of the number into a friendly number to make it easier to add or subtract. However, when you adjust one number, you have to keep track of what you’ve adjusted and compensate for it.

The Traditional Algorithm

As I mentioned above, I do give students experience with the traditional algorithm. However, I make sure we tie those experiences to known strategies, models, and language. The algorithm is not taught in isolation.

Here are a few examples of how I give students experience with the traditional algorithm.

Did you notice that should say 7 tens and 11 ones?  The student didn’t pay attention to the base-10 blocks!

These come from my Decompose a Ten packet, which balances working with the traditional algorithm with base-10 models and gives students the language of decomposing numbers.

Whew – that’s a lot of information to digest! There are many different models and strategies a student can use to solve two-digit addition and subtraction problems. What I outlined above are a few that I have found especially helpful for students. They help students develop a solid foundation with two-digit addition and subtraction, create a bridge to three-digit addition and subtraction, as well as emphasize the idea of using strategies and models to solve problems, not just following steps in a process.

If you teach second grade, you might like a few pages from some of my two-digit addition and subtraction products. I’ve compiled this PDF of resources as a sampler from several different products that really emphasize all the work we do in our classroom to develop these strategies in depth.

Different components of the sampler can be used in whole groups or small groups and are perfect for helping your students think outside the box when it comes to solving multi-digit addition and subtraction.

Two-Digit Resources Mentioned Above

Here is a list with links to all of the two-digit addition and subtraction resources mentioned above.  They can be purchased on my website or on Teachers Pay Teachers .

• Roll and Spin Math Stations
• Cut and Paste Math Activities for Second Grade  ( TpT )
• Two-Digit Addition Math Centers  ( TpT )
• Two-Digit Subtraction Math Centers  ( TpT )
• Addition Task Cards Using 100s Charts  ( TpT )
• Two-Digit Subtraction Flap Books  ( TpT )
• Decompose a Ten Task Cards  ( TpT )

Many of the above are also included in a Two-Digit Addition and Subtraction BUNDLE  ( TpT ).

Additional Two-Digit Addition & Subtraction Resources

• Two-Digit Addition Number Puzzles ( TpT )
• Two-Digit Subtraction Number Puzzles  ( TpT )
• Decompose Two-Digit Numbers Number Puzzles  ( TpT )
• Two-Digit Addition No Prep Printables / Worksheets ( TpT )
• Two-Digit Subtraction No Prep Printables / Worksheets

This entire blog has made my life easier. I am a student teacher to second graders and I have been having a difficult time figuring out how to teach my students double digit addition and subtraction with and without regrouping. A lot of kids this year have a weak number sense and I know that is contributing to their struggle. Your booklets and packets have made their struggle nearly disappear.

Is awesome to me as well and i think it will really help my students as well

Hello, I’m curious what math program you are working with? We have just adopted EverydayMath and much of your approach reminds me of that program – but is more friendly! Thanks for your reply.

After Common Core came out we were in transition and didn’t really use one math program, but a variety of resources that meet the standards. These resources are not based on any program, but processes students can use with any program.

OMG!. Thank you so much for putting this together, and making it visible. I am a parent of a 4th grader who is still struggling with understanding this material. I’ve seen many worksheets sent home with a combination of strategies this is the first time, I’ve understood how they are all connected. I love your simple explanations, breakdown of the standards, and real-world examples. I bet you are an AMAZING teacher, and truly, truly, appreciate you.

Great explanation for some of us parents that feel kind of lost like my self right now. I grow up with other math methods, and I feel frustrated that my 2nd grader comes home with different types of strategies that I don’t know. But Thankfully, searching on the web I came along with this amazing page that really explains all those strategies that new generations are learning today. Thank you so much for this strategies, it is well appreciated from myself and I bet many parents out there. I can tell you are an amazing teacher. Thanks a lot!

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Kindergarten Smarts

Primary resources with your students in mind

Addition Strategies Anchor Chart

May 28, 2013 by sarahcasady Filed Under: Math , Teaching Strategies , Uncategorized 2 Comments

I use this anchor chart in my classroom every year, and it is a really great resource for the kiddos to refer to! I make sure to post it where it’s easily accessible for them. When we move into problem solving, they are already thinking of different strategies to use just from seeing this anchor chart. I love when I over hear students discussing with their parters, “I’m going to use the number line strategy or I’m going to draw dots for my strategy!”

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Hi Sarah, I just had to come on over and see your cute design by Erika and Misty and their team. It's so adorable. I love bunting and chevron too! Vicky Traditions, Laughter and Happily Ever After

Thanks! I'm glad you stopped by 🙂

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How To Use Anchor Charts For Math In The Classroom and Virtually

• Post author: iHeart Teaching Elementary
• Post published:
• Post category: Math
• Post comments: 0 Comments

How can you easily provide extra math support for students both in the classroom and virtually? With anchor charts for math!

Anchor charts are tools that support students with the instruction they receive in class.

In a brick and mortar classroom, they are primarily created on chart paper and hung up for students to reference. 

But how can anchor charts be used in the classroom? In this post, I’ll walk you through how to use anchor charts for math with students in a virtual and brick and mortar classroom.

Important Notes about Anchor Charts

First, let’s talk about how to effectively use anchor charts for math whether they are on paper or digital. 

When teachers create an anchor chart it is best practice, in my opinion, to create the bare bones of the chart beforehand. For any skill you’re teaching, write the title, the definition or explanation, and the problems that the kids will solve. 

During the lesson, students guide the teacher in completing the anchor chart by solving the problems. 

Kids are more likely to refer to anchor charts when they have helped create it. 

When I hang up a completed anchor chart during a unit, I take a picture of the anchor chart for students to glue into their notebooks. This gives them access to the chart all year so that when it gets taken down they can still reference it.

How to Use Anchor Charts for Math in Distance Learning 

If you teach in a virtual classroom, you can still create anchor charts for math. They can either be created in Google Slides or in Microsoft PowerPoint. 

Since it’s virtual you’ll want completed anchor charts as well as anchor charts for the kids to complete

Next, you’ll add a slide or two for kids to practice working on the skill on their own. You’ll add text boxes, shapes, or images for the students to fill in and manipulate on the chart. 

Make a master copy of the anchor chart presentation so that you have a back-up saved. Then name the student copy and get the share link if you made the presentation in Google Slides.

Finally, assign the anchor charts on the platform you use for virtual teaching. You can choose to have kids submit the completed anchor charts so you can see if they are understanding the material. 

Using Interactive Anchor Charts for Math in the Face-to-Face Classroom

If you teach face-to-face you can still use the same interactive anchor charts for math. You can display the anchor charts on the screen if you are able to project your computer screen. Then work through the slides as a whole group.

They’re also perfect for absent students because they can still receive the instruction they missed. If a student misses a day of instruction where you taught with an anchor chart , you can assign them the interactive version.

Another effective use for virtual anchor charts for math is to provide extra support to struggling students. 

I should note that you’ll need to have the kids set up on a digital platform like Google Classroom. 

The absent student can work through the anchor chart slides and get the same lesson they missed. 

If you have struggling students, assign them an anchor slide presentation for the skill they are having trouble with. They can get this added support to work on either during independent work time or at home for extra practice. 

Tips for Virtual Anchor Charts

-Create the slides with text and images you don’t want students to accidentally delete or move. Next save those slides as images and import them as the background in a new presentation. Then add the text boxes, shapes or images that you want students to fill in or move. 

-Create all of your anchor chart slides in one presentation at the same time. This will save you from having to create a new anchor chart slide every time you are teaching a new skill. You can save it as a master copy and then create a second copy where you delete the slides you don’t need for a particular skill. 

Anchor charts for math are effective in both the classroom and for distance learning. If you create any or use them in your classroom I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

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5 Ways to Use Math Anchor Charts in your Classroom

• December 19, 2022

Math Anchor charts are visual aids used to remind students of key concepts and strategies. When it comes to teaching math, there are a lot of different strategies to use in order to help students learn and review various skills. But math anchor charts are particularly helpful for making concepts stick. Here are 5 ways that you can use anchor charts in your math classroom to help students learn and review skills.

1. Introduce a new concept 

When you introduce a new concept, create or display a pre-made anchor chart for your students. This will help them to remember what they need to do in order to complete the task. For example, if you are introducing long division, create an anchor chart with the steps that students need to follow. You can also include an example or two on the chart. Show students how to refer back to the charts if they get stuck. I’ve included my long division anchor chart as a free download. Grab it here! Pro Tip: If you are using a pre-made anchor chart from a PDF you can print it as a larger item. Just choose the “poster” setting from your printer menu.

2. Use math anchor charts as support during extra practice

If you want to review a skill with your students, print your anchor charts as standard 8.5×11 pages and leave them at a math station. Pair them with a set of math task cards for that particular skill. Then students can review the skill using the math anchor chart as they work on applying that same skill while solving the problems on the cards. This will help students to remember what they need to do when working through a particular skill. 

3. Review a skill

4. Make a concept board with math anchor charts

Print all the anchor charts about one topic, such as fractions , in 8.5 x 11 and hang them up on your classroom bulletin board to create a concept wall. This will be especially helpful for those students who need a little extra reminder about how to do something from time to time. It will also help them see how skills within that topic are related to one another. 

5. Send them home

If you have parents who are willing to help their children with their math homework, send the anchor charts home with them so that they can use them as a reference as well. This is a great way for parents to be involved in their child’s learning and for children to get extra practice at home!  The perfect way to do this is to set your printer to “2 pages per sheet” so that the charts shrink to just the right size to be glued inside a composition notebook.

Math Anchor charts are a great way to introduce new concepts, review skills, provide extra practice, and serve as a reference for both students and parents alike. So next time you are teaching math, try using a math anchor chart or two in order to help your students master the material in no time!

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Teaching Double Digit Addition: 4 Proven Strategies for Success

Typically, 2nd grade is the grade level where students are exposed to double digit addition problems for the first time. It is the year that they will be exposed to multiple addition strategies that they can use to solve problems. As an elementary math teacher, we spend a lot of time discussing these strategies for adding two digit numbers, using models and manipulatives, and doing mental math.

It is often asked why we teach these addition skills so differently from the way we as adults learned growing up. The answer is simple. It is a great way to teach the WHY before we teach the HOW . We must give student’s lot of options and flexibility when it comes to solving problems. Each child learns and can find the correct answer differently.

The Texas TEK for two-digit addition states: 2.4B: Add up to four two-digit numbers and subtract two-digit numbers using mental strategies and algorithms based on place value and properties of operations.  

The Common Core Standard for double digit addition states: 2.NBT.B.5: Fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction . 

Note that the bolded text above says nothing about the standard algorithm for 2-digit addition that we learned growing up years ago. Keep reading to learn about four ways I introduce and teach my students two digit addition strategies.

Note that these strategies will not focus on regrouping to find the final sum. Students need a strong understanding of place value AND simple addition from previous exercises before moving on to that task.

At the beginning our double digit addition math lessons unit I always make this anchor chart . As we learn a new strategy it is added to our whole group chart. My students keep a matching copy of this in their math journal. This is helpful for them to look back on when they need extra support. Learning the different strategies for adding two digit numbers can be difficult so the student anchor charts tend to help tremendously!

Let me break down these four strategies for adding two digit numbers a little more.  

Base Ten Model for Double Digit Addition

When introducing two-digit addition, I always start with the base ten model. This is the first of the double digit addition strategies that we learn together. We do lots of work with base ten block manipulatives but I also teach them to draw the blocks out on paper. This is because students won’t always have those manipulatives available to them, but they will have a pencil and paper. I’ve found that this strategy is most often used if students have a strong sense of place value.  

I always give my students a place value mat placed inside a plastic sleeve. This allows students to also write or draw using a dry erase marker and they can be used over and over again to practice these math skills. 

Here is how this double digit addition strategy works using the example 62+34. 

1. Build/draw out both addends with base ten blocks. (Sometimes it is fun to use other manipulatives. In the photo example, I used pipe cleaners cut into pieces for the tens and small pompom balls for the ones.)

2. Count the ones first and then the tens. This will help when regrouping is introduced later.

3. Solve for the sum.

 When students need to draw out this strategy it works the same way. I teach them to draw “sticks” to represent the tens and “dots” to represent the ones. I also teach them to draw out the first addend and then draw the second addend underneath. They’ll count to solve for the sum. 

Expanded Form Method   for Double Digit Addition

The second double digit addition strategy that I always introduce is the Expanded Form Method. This is another strategy that is extremely beneficial, but students must again have a strong knowledge of place value and expanding numbers. Each addended will be broken apart into tens and ones and helps students see that the tens place isn’t just a 6. It’s value represents 60 or 6 tens. 

Here is how it works using the example 52+45.  

• Expand the first addend. >>> 50+2  
• Expand the second addend and write it underneath the first. >>> 40+5    
• Solve vertically based on place value starting with the ones, then the tens.   
• Solve for the sum. >>> 90+7 =97

Number Line Model   for Double Digit Addition

Using an open number line to solve two-digit addition problems is highly beneficial but also tends to be more challenging for students. Especially if they do not have a strong knowledge of mental math. 

This strategy focuses on students “hopping” along a number line to solve the sum of a given problem. Large hops are drawn for plus 10 and smaller hops are drawn for plus

To help students visualize this strategy more, I always include base ten blocks at first. When they are more comfortable with this strategy then they can take them away. 

Here is how it works using the example 22+43. 1.    

1. Draw an open number line.

2. Write the larger addend at the start of the number line.

3. Then, students use base ten blocks to build the other addended horizontally across the number line.

4. Draw large hops over the tens for +10 and small hops over the ones for +1. 5.    

They’ll skip count and write out the numbers to solve for the sum.

When it comes to putting pencil to paper your students can easily do the same strategy. If they need to draw base ten blocks along their number line they can. Our goal is for them to be able to mentally add.

Standard Algorithm   for Double Digit Addition

This traditional method is probably how you learned two-digit addition growing up and it is what our children’s parents are most familiar with. For this strategy, students need to line up both addends vertically underneath each other. They will add the numbers in the ones place first and then the tens place to solve for the sum. 

One tip that can be helpful when first learning this strategy is to have students us a highlighter to highlight the ones place or have them circle the numbers in the ones place first. This helps them visualize to add the ones place first followed by the tens. I want this to become a habit for my students.

This concept can be more complicated for them than we realize because they are trained to read and write from left to right. It will be more difficult when they learn how to regroup when adding two-digit numbers so getting them in this habit first will be helpful.

At the end of our unit, we always make these Double Digit Addition Strategy Flipbooks to help us review. They can keep these to use later as a reference when they need it.  

Whew! That may seem like a lot of information to process. We all learn concepts in different ways and the addition strategies that I have shared are what I have found to be beneficial for my own students.

There is no right or wrong strategy when it comes to solving two-digit addition problems. Allow your students to choose the method that works best for them and have them stick with it. Once they have found a method that they are comfortable with, it is important to provide them with multiple opportunities to practice adding 2-digit numbers.

Need a great resource? Below are some resource links that you may find helpful.

Addition and Subtraction without Regrouping Unit

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8 Free Missing Addend Anchor Chart Examples

These missing addend anchor chart examples will help to visualize and understand the relation between two addends in the addition process and number systems. 1st-grade students will learn basic addition and subtraction methods and can improve their basic math skills with our free printable missing addend anchor chart examples.

Table of Contents

8 Fun Examples to Learn Missing Addend Anchor Chart

Please download the following anchor chart examples and understand each concept given on the pages.

Number Line

Part-Part Whole

Removing Counters

Number Bond

Block Activity

Balancing Addend

Doing Hand Signs

What Is an Anchor Chart?

In the previous section, you learned the basics of a missing addend. This time, you will be familiar with a new term named anchor chart. What does a missing addend with an anchor chart mean? A poster used to highlight key concepts in a lesson is known as an anchor chart.

The poster or chart acts as an anchor for keeping both the teachers’ and students’ gathered concepts, methods, and ideologies for solving a problem in one place. To solve a given problem, both the students and the teacher can share and save their ideas in these types of charts.

Missing Addend Anchor Chart Using Number Line

Finding missing addend is a fun thing for strengthening your little champ’s mathematical skills. 

You can see the problem in the image below. Your first job is to find the required information and the value to be found. To find the missing addend, you can use a number line .

First, we are talking about the number line. Put the two values in the number line that you previously found in the question. Now, what to do? Here comes your analysis skill. You see there is some gap between the two numbers.

Start to hop from the first number to the second one. Remember how many points you have earned. When you have exactly come to the second number, stop hopping.

Missing Addend Anchor Chart Using Part Part Whole

The second way to find missing addend is to use a part-part whole box. This type of box is very useful for finding missing addend-related problems. You have to put the whole or the total number in the lower part of the box.

Then, you will notice two extra parts on the top side of the box. Place the first part, the first number, or the first number or first addend that you will find in your problem. Now the other part is empty.

What to do? As both the upper parts come together to make the lower value just subtract the given upper part from the total or the whole and find your missing addend.

Missing Addend Anchor Chart Using Counters

This fun activity is also useful for finding the missing addend. Let us explain.

Like the previous two activities, you can see a problem in the following image. Now, identify the total and the given addend from the problem. Then, draw an exact amount of your favorite shape equal to the whole or total. After that, give a cross sign on the number of shapes equal to the given addend.

Finally, count the number of counters without any cross marks and tell me what you know! This is your missing addend. Now, surprise your teacher by telling him the answer.

Missing Addend Anchor Chart Using Number Bond

To make a number mountain, From your given problem, take the bigger number and place it on the mountaintop. It is clear that the top is built by adding the bottom values. So, the next task is to place the smaller of the two numbers from the question and put it on the bottom-right side of the mountain.

It’s time to count. Start from the lower-left side of the mountain. See, there is no value here, and you have to find it. Remember the number from the bottom right? Start to count after that number and put a dot on the way from the missing addend’s space to the top of the mountain.

Keep putting dots on the page until you reach the top and your counting is finished. Now count the number of draws that you have to make to reach the top. Hurray!!! Show the answer and earn a good performer badge from your teacher.

Missing Addend Anchor Chart Using Ten Frames

Another strategy to find your missing addend is the use of ten frames . This is a rectangular-shaped frame where ten spaces are built. You can use this tool to practice your number problems that are between 1 to 10.

So what’s your role in using this tool? Let me explain. First of all, draw ten frames like the following image. Under the image, write the total or whole value. Then mark the room that is equal to the whole by counting from the left. This is your destination.

Take a colored pen and start to color the spaces in the frame. How many? Equal to the number that is given aside from the total in your problem. After all of these, you will see some white spaces or gaps left between the dots and the mark that was made in the first place. Count the number of white spaces and taste victory.

Missing Addend Anchor Chart Using Block Activity

Take your paper and some colored pencils. Like the previous instructions identify the given numbers. In your practice sheet, make a pillar of blocks that match the whole or total of your problem. Color the blocks after gathering. Then, notice the smaller number, and build the same number of blocks on the right side of the previous one.

Use another color to differentiate it from the other column. Count how many blocks are missing to make the whole column look like the previous one. The gap is our required missing addend.

Missing Addend Anchor Chart Using Balancing Addends

Imbalance means imperfection. Without balance, all your hard work will go to waste. Our following problem is also related to balance. Your job is to make the value equal on both sides in order to lift the dumbbell. For the solution take the help of the previous activity.

Missing Addend Anchor Chart Using Hand Signs

The last activity of missing the addend anchor chart will help you in this regard. Then counting with your fingers is your life savior. Firstly, find the whole problem and the given addend from the problem. Secondly, start to count from your left hand’s finger to the right.

Count the number of fingers that is equal to the given addend. Afterward, find the number of fingers that are required to fill the gap between the whole and the given addend. That’s the number we want to find.

Download Free Printable PDF

Download the following combined PDF and enjoy your practice session.

So today, some interactive missing addend anchor chart examples using the concepts of the part-part whole, counters, ten frames, and some interactive activities. Going through these examples, the students will improve their skills in finding missing addend. Download our free worksheets, and after going through these examples, students will surely improve their mathematical skills and have a better understanding of finding missing adend.

Hello, I am Md. Araf Bin Jayed. I have completed my B.Sc in Industrial and Production Engineering from Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology. Currently I am working as a Content Developer for You Have Got This Math at Softeko. With proper guidelines and aid from the parent organization Softeko, I want to represent typical math problems with easy solutions. With my acquired knowledge and hard work, I want to contribute to the overall growth of this organization.

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Anchor Charts 101: Why and How To Use Them

It’s the chart you make once and use 100 times.

Anchor charts are a way to make a lesson stick around long after you’ve taught the skills. The idea is that you create them as part of a lesson or unit, then students have the chart to anchor their work with those skills. Here’s our ultimate guide to anchor charts, from how to make them to when to use them. Plus we offer examples from classrooms just like yours.

What is an anchor chart?

An anchor chart is a tool used to support instruction (i.e., “anchor” the learning for students). As you teach a lesson, you create a chart that captures the most important information, the strategies, and content that you want students to refer to later. Then, hang it in a space where students can see it and refer to it when they are practicing the skill.

Types of anchor charts

You can make an anchor chart for literally everything, but there are three main types:

• Procedure: Think routines and procedures that you want students to refer to as they work in your classroom.
• Strategy or process: These are for strategies you want students to remember and apply in their work. Things like how to create Cornell notes, how to break apart multisyllabic words, or how to solve a geometric proof.
• Vocabulary: Anchor charts can also prove helpful in reinforcing vocabulary since students need lots of practice with words for them to “stick.”

How do I create anchor charts?

Making a chart is the best way to put your teaching, creativity, and smelly markers to work.

• Start with an outline: You know what you want students to learn, so create the frame ahead of time if you need to. For example, you might create boxes for a process or draw a snowman to write about.
• Add a heading: Make sure the purpose is clear.
• Fill it out: Work with students to model the strategy or content and take their ideas for completing the chart. While you should know what needs to be included, be open to student suggestions. Filling out a chart may take one lesson or an entire unit.
• Hang the chart: Display the chart where students can see it when they need the information.
• Refer to the anchor chart: Students need to learn how to use anchor charts just like any other tool in your classroom. So, when students have a question or when giving directions for a task, refer them to the chart.

Some charts may stay up all year, while others are switched out when students have mastered that content. In that way, posting anchor charts keeps relevant and current learning accessible to students, reminds them of prior learning, and encourages them to make connections as new learning happens.

How to maximize anchor charts

Use our tips to learn how to use anchor charts like a pro!

Use color strategically

Use different colors and bullet points to help students quickly access the information you want them to see.

Keep them simple and neat

Use easy-to-read graphics and clear organization. Don’t allow distracting, irrelevant details or stray marks, such as too many arrows or overemphatic use of underlining that undercuts your message.

Use visuals

Use drawings and other visuals to show what happens in a process or procedure, like this example that explains how sound waves travel.

Don’t over use them

While anchor charts are a super-useful tool, don’t feel as if you need to create one for every single lesson. Choose carefully so the ones you create have the greatest impact.

Have students do the work

Create a living anchor chart by having students add to it with sticky notes of examples from what they read or research they do.

Get inspiration

Teachers always get their best ideas from other teachers. If your teammate has already tackled a topic, use the same format. Just make sure you create your own version from scratch so your students experience the learning as you go.

Aim for maximum engagement

When students are involved in the process of creating learning tools, they are more likely to comprehend more deeply and remember more of what they learn.

Bring lessons to life

If you are studying a topic that lends itself particularly well to a visual aid, create an anchor chart! If you are studying how animals develop, for example, draw a visual of what happens inside an egg when there is and is not a chick.

Support independent work

Anchor charts provide students with a source to reference when working on their own, like this model of how and when to round.

Use anchor charts as classroom references

To help students keep information straight, create charts for each topic. For example, if you’re teaching math concepts, create a chart for geometric shapes, the difference between perimeter and area, and how to multiply and divide fractions.

Reinforce classroom procedures

Provide students with a visual to remind them of routines, like these anchor charts about how to do independent reading and get new books. The poster doesn’t have to be huge, but it does have to be helpful.

Use anchor charts as a companion to read-alouds

While you’re reading, stop, observe, and record. At the end, you’ll have a chart to remind students about the main vocabulary, ideas, and structure of the story.

Helpful Anchor Chart Resources

Inspired? Check out these anchor chart compilations for ideas:

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Word Problem Anchor Chart: A Useful Tool For Mathematical Problem Solving

Introduction

Mathematics can be a challenging subject for many students, especially when it comes to solving word problems. Often, students struggle to understand what is being asked in the problem and how to approach finding a solution. This is where a word problem anchor chart can be incredibly helpful.

What is a Word Problem Anchor Chart?

A word problem anchor chart is a visual tool that provides students with guidance on how to break down and solve word problems effectively. It typically includes a series of steps or strategies that students can refer to when faced with a word problem.

Benefits of Using a Word Problem Anchor Chart

There are several benefits to using a word problem anchor chart in the classroom:

1. Visual Representation

The chart provides students with a visual representation of the problem-solving process, making it easier for them to understand and follow along.

2. Step-by-Step Guidance

The chart breaks down the problem-solving process into manageable steps, allowing students to approach each problem with a clear plan in mind.

3. Reinforcement of Problem-Solving Strategies

The anchor chart serves as a reminder of the problem-solving strategies that students have learned, reinforcing their understanding and application of these strategies.

4. Increased Confidence

By having a reference tool readily available, students feel more confident in their ability to tackle word problems, leading to improved performance.

Components of a Word Problem Anchor Chart

A word problem anchor chart typically includes the following components:

1. Read the Problem

Emphasize the importance of thoroughly reading and understanding the problem before attempting to solve it.

2. Identify the Key Information

Guide students to identify the essential details and information provided in the problem that are necessary for finding a solution.

3. Determine the Operation

Help students determine whether the problem requires addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division to find the answer.

4. Create an Equation or Model

Encourage students to represent the problem using an equation or visual model to better understand the relationship between the given information and the unknown.

5. Solve the Problem

Guide students through the steps of solving the problem using the chosen operation and the identified information.

A word problem anchor chart is a valuable tool that supports students in their journey towards becoming proficient problem solvers. By providing clear guidance and reinforcing problem-solving strategies, the chart enables students to approach word problems with confidence and achieve success in their mathematical endeavors.