Addition and subtraction strategies
Use counting on and counting back as strategies for addition and subtraction
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Teaching Table · Plan outline
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“If your child needs to work out '8 + 5', can they start from 8 and count up five more — rather than starting from 1 every time?”
Full guide and materials
- Activity. Use counting on and counting back as strategies for addition and subtraction
What to notice. Add 8 + 3 by starting at 8 and counting on 3 (9, 10, 11) • Subtract 12 − 3 by counting back 3 from 12 (11, 10, 9) • Explain that counting on is a way to add
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1 approach
If your child needs to work out '8 + 5', can they start from 8 and count up five more — rather than starting from 1 every time?
Use counting on and counting back as strategies for addition and subtraction
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Learning resources
Reviewed external links that reinforce this concept. They do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.
Topmarks · Practice link — not the full lesson
Robot More or Less
Quick matching for one more/one less and small addition or subtraction steps. Use it to rehearse counting on and counting back, not multi-digit written methods.
Free · no login · ads
Review and open practice
Save a matched-pair screenshot plus a parent note that the learner counted on or back aloud for two examples.
Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.
Open practice (new tab)Source, access and review notes
Quick matching for one more/one less and small addition or subtraction steps. Use it to rehearse counting on and counting back, not multi-digit written methods.
Save a matched-pair screenshot plus a parent note that the learner counted on or back aloud for two examples.
Free · no login · ads
Unknown — link only
Toy Theater · Practice link — not the full lesson
Number Line
Adult-guided number line for counting on and counting back from a start number. Choose a friendly range and hop forward or backward.
Free · no login · ads
Review and open practice
Save a number-line screenshot showing hops and a parent note of one count-on and one count-back example.
Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.
Open practice (new tab)Source, access and review notes
Adult-guided number line for counting on and counting back from a start number. Choose a friendly range and hop forward or backward.
Save a number-line screenshot showing hops and a parent note of one count-on and one count-back example.
Free · no login · ads
Unknown — link only
Check understanding
- Add 8 + 3 by starting at 8 and counting on 3 (9, 10, 11)
- Subtract 12 − 3 by counting back 3 from 12 (11, 10, 9)
- Explain that counting on is a way to add
“If your child needs to work out '8 + 5', can they start from 8 and count up five more — rather than starting from 1 every time?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Procedural
- Subject
- Mathematics
- Domain
- Addition & Subtraction
- Age range
- Ages 6–7
Standards