Representing Addition

We have spent the last couple weeks learning many different strategies for representing addition.  It is important students understand how to break two digit numbers apart into 10s and 1s.  For example, 26 is 2 tens and 6 ones and equals 20+6.  Knowing that will help students show what they know about addition using a hundred chart and a number line.  We always start with the biggest number, then add the tens, then the ones of the second number.  We also practiced adding the ones, then the tens of the second number but decided we preferred adding the tens first.  Our goal this year is for students to be able to represent numbers in MANY different ways, not just to memorize rules about adding and subtracting.  The more students work with breaking numbers apart and putting them together, the more fluent they will become with addition and subtraction.