Your second graders will learn a lot of different strategies for solving addition and subtraction problems in math class this year. These strategies may not be familiar to parents, because they differ from the standard algorithms that we were taught in school. The idea is that through learning multiple different methods for problem solving, students will develop a deeper understanding of the processes they are carrying out as they add and subtract large numbers. Students will also learn to think of the problems conceptually and logically, rather than simply applying a memorized formula. Teaching your child the standard algorithm at home is fine--it will just become one of many strategies that he or she can choose to use when solving math problems. However, please do not expect your child to come home already knowing how to add and subtract using the same strategies you were taught, because we do not necessarily teach those strategies in the classroom in second grade. Encourage your child to try to explain the strategies that he or she has learned in school--explaining a strategy to someone else is always good practice!
Wake County has put together a series of videos explaining some of the math strategies your child will learn in second grade--check out the links to youtube videos below.
Mental Math-Counting On
Mental Math-Making a Ten
Mental Math-Creating an Easier Problem
Mental Math-Using the Relationship Between Addition and Subtraction
Mental Math-Doubles
Pairing Objects to Determine if a Number is Even or Odd
Using a Number Line to Add or Subtract
Using a Hundreds Board to Add or Subtract
Representing a Number with a Place Value Drawing
Writing a Number in Expanded Form
2-Digit Addition Using Place Value Strategy
2-Digit Addition Using a Hundreds Board
2-Digit Addition Using Decomposing a Number to Make a Ten
2-Digit Addition Using Show All Totals Method
2-Digit Addition Using Expanded Method
2-Digit Subtraction Using Place Value Strategy
2-Digit Subtraction Using a Number Line
2-Digit Subtraction Using a Hundreds Board
2-Digit Subtraction Using Expanded Method
3-Digit Addition with Base Ten Place Value Blocks
3-Digit Subtraction Using a Number Line
3-Digit Addition with Proof Drawings
3-Digit Subtraction Using Expanded Method
3-Digit Subtraction with Proof Drawings
Using an Array to Find a Total
Adding up to Four 2-Digit Numbers
Wake County has put together a series of videos explaining some of the math strategies your child will learn in second grade--check out the links to youtube videos below.
Mental Math-Counting On
Mental Math-Making a Ten
Mental Math-Creating an Easier Problem
Mental Math-Using the Relationship Between Addition and Subtraction
Mental Math-Doubles
Pairing Objects to Determine if a Number is Even or Odd
Using a Number Line to Add or Subtract
Using a Hundreds Board to Add or Subtract
Representing a Number with a Place Value Drawing
Writing a Number in Expanded Form
2-Digit Addition Using Place Value Strategy
2-Digit Addition Using a Hundreds Board
2-Digit Addition Using Decomposing a Number to Make a Ten
2-Digit Addition Using Show All Totals Method
2-Digit Addition Using Expanded Method
2-Digit Subtraction Using Place Value Strategy
2-Digit Subtraction Using a Number Line
2-Digit Subtraction Using a Hundreds Board
2-Digit Subtraction Using Expanded Method
3-Digit Addition with Base Ten Place Value Blocks
3-Digit Subtraction Using a Number Line
3-Digit Addition with Proof Drawings
3-Digit Subtraction Using Expanded Method
3-Digit Subtraction with Proof Drawings
Using an Array to Find a Total
Adding up to Four 2-Digit Numbers