About
About
This subtraction strategy unit provides practice with two different, but related, beginning subtraction strategies – counting back and counting up.
Counting back involves beginning with the bigger number (minuend) and counting back. This strategy should not be used when the subtrahend is higher than 4. For example, using counting back to solve 16-11 would not be effective, because it would be easy to make mistakes and get mixed up in the counting.
Counting up involves beginning with the smaller number (subtrahend) and counting up. This strategy is most effective when the difference between the minuend and subtrahend is 4 or less. Working with the counting up strategy will help students build connections between addition and subtraction.