Teddy Bear Picnic Math Stories with Child 15
A second-grade student solves a variety of addition and subtraction math stories. Using his fingers as math tools, he is able to solve the stories, even as what is known or unknown shifts. Solving a range of problem types encourages children to make sense of the problem and develop flexible thinking. Here, we see the child strategically select a method for solving each story based on the given numbers.
Focus on the Child videos are taken from one-on-one interviews with individual children. The interviews are designed to elicit evidence of children’s mathematical thinking. They are not teaching episodes or formal assessments.
Why is this important?
This child uses number relationships to solve these math stories. Because of his solid number sense, he chooses either to add up to find the difference or count down to find the difference when the change is unknown. The numbers in the story guide his thinking.
Support our work
The Early Math Collaborative works to improve math instruction for young children in three ways:
- Professional development
- Research
- Dissemination