Teach Subtraction Strategies with Ease!

This slide deck for teachers, which includes animations, has been designed to explain a variety of commonly used mental computation strategies for subtraction.

Before moving on to the written vertical algorithm for subtraction, lay a strong foundation and understanding of these mental computation strategies.

As there are a number of strategies covered in this presentation, it is assumed that the slides will be viewed over numerous lessons.

Strategies for Subtraction – Lesson Plans

This resource download is the perfect tool for teaching a wide range of strategies for subtraction. We recommend breaking the slides into multiple direct instruction sessions and independent practice activities.

The following strategies are addressed:

• counting back
• counting on
• using known facts such as rainbow facts, doubles, subtracting 10
• making tens (partitioning to numbers that end in zero)
• using fact families to think of addition in order to subtract
• jump strategy
• split strategy
• regrouping (trading).

This PowerPoint includes hyperlinks to the following subtraction teaching resources:

• Making Tens Subtraction Worksheet
• Missing Addends Worksheet
• Jump Strategy Subtraction Game
• Split Strategy Subtraction Dominoes
• Trade It Board Game