During our math switch this week we continued to practice, practice, practice our counting-on strategy to find missing totals.

When solving an equation with a missing total, we learned to underline the greater number and count on with dots under the smaller number.  Counting on from the greater number is the fastest and most accurate way to solve a missing total equation.

We also used our counting on strategy as we worked with nickels and pennies this week.  Our nickel strip, which you saw on your child’s homework page, helps us remember that “a nickel is equal to five pennies”.  With this knowledge, the kids were easily able to identify a nickel as 5 cents and count on each additional penny.

After our practice with money this week, our first grade mathematicians were able to tell the difference between nickels and pennies with great ease.  Later in the year, when dimes and quarters are introduced, it becomes much more difficult for our first graders to differentiate between the three “silver” coins.  At home, please provide your child with opportunities to explore with nickels and be sure to talk with him/her about the special properties of this coin that make it stand out from the others (medium sized, Monticello on the back, President Jefferson on the front, smooth outside edges, worth 5 cents).

As always, thank you so much for your support and encouragement as your child grows their math skills at home and at school!

Miss Taber 🙂