Addition and subtraction strategies
Use counting on and counting back as strategies for addition and subtraction
Teaching approaches
Gakuva’s recommended starting approach is selected. You can still compare every option.
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
Learning resources
Reviewed external links that reinforce this concept. They do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.
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.
Proof: Save a matched-pair screenshot plus a parent note that the learner counted on or back aloud for two examples.
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.
Proof: Save a number-line screenshot showing hops and a parent note of one count-on and one count-back example.
Explore the learning path
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Before
This concept
Next
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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