How to use this sheet

  • Have the child find each subtraction fact through addition: for 13 − 5, ask "5 and what make 13?"
  • For facts past 10, show subtracting back to ten: 13 − 5 is 13 − 3 − 2, so 10 − 2.
  • Mark the facts that took counting and do those again tomorrow, not the whole sheet.

Common mistakes

  • Subtracting the smaller digit from the larger whatever the order, so 12 − 5 becomes 3 by doing 5 − 2. Use counters or a ten frame to show 12.
  • Counting back and including the start number, so 9 − 3 becomes 7. Count the jumps back, not the start.
  • Adding when they see two numbers. Read the sign aloud before each fact.

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