Simple addition:

E.g. 7+2 =

The children can put the big number in their heads and count on the amount of the smaller number.

If they struggle with this, they can tap their head when they say the larger number, then use their fingers to count on the amount of the smaller number. E.g. "7 (tap on head)...(count on fingers) 8...9.. So the answer is 9. (7+2=9)"

Adding 3 numbers together:

E.g. 8+3+2=

The children should be encouraged in these sorts of calculations to look for number bonds that they already know. E.g. can they find a number bond to 10 in the number sentence, then add on the extra number?

E.g.

8+2 = 10

10+3 =13

Adding two, two digit numbers together:

E.g. 31+22=

The method the children have been practicing is to:

1. Label the tens and the ones

2. Join up the ones - and add up the ones

3. Join up the tens - and add up the tens

4. Add the tens and ones together

(please watch video below)

Multiplication

3 x 5 =

The children have been learning the multiplication symbol as "groups of". So they would read this calculation as 3 groups of 5. To work this out they could count in groups of 5, three times using their fingers. 

E.g. 5, 10, 15. The answer is 15. 

(see video below)

Division

E.g. 12÷2 =

There are two different strategies the children have been taught to work out division calculations. 

1. To share - The fist (largest) number in the calculation shows how many there are to start with and the second number is how many you are to share it into. e.g. you have 12 sweets and you are to share it between two people. How many would they get each. To work this out the children could draw two circles and share 12 dots between the two circles, and see how many dots ended up in each circle.

2. Grouping - How many groups of 2 are in 12? To do this we can count up in 2s until we reach 12. Then see how many groups we have. We can use our fingers for this. This is the most efficient method. (see video)

If we are unsure how to count in 2s we could always draw a picture of 12 in twos and see how many groups of 2 there are.