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Have you ever watched a child add on their fingers, lose track of where they were, and then start all over again? It can be a little frustrating for both of you, but it’s also such an important reminder that some children are still counting because they don’t yet see how numbers work together. It’s a lot like when kids first learn to recite the alphabet. They might be able to sing the ABC song perfectly, but not yet recognize the letters or understand the sounds they make. The same thing happens in math. Kids can count or recite number sequences without really understanding the relationships between numbers.  That’s where the basic facts come in. Knowing that 8 + 2 = 10 or 6 + 3 = 9 isn’t just about remembering an answer; it’s about understanding how numbers connect and build on each other. When children develop this understanding, they gain confidence, speed, and flexibility. They start to think, reason, and solve problems instead of just counting one by one. Once children have built strong number sense, recognizing quantities, seeing patterns, and understanding the idea of “how many,” they’re ready to explore how numbers work together. And that’s the perfect time to begin working on basic facts.  What Are Basic Facts, and Why Do They Matter?When we talk about “basic facts,” we usually mean addition and subtraction facts within 20. These are the small number combinations that form the building blocks for everything else in math. But fluency with basic facts doesn’t mean memorizing a list of equations. True fluency means being accurate, flexible, and confident. It’s knowing that if 6 + 6 = 12, then 6 + 7 must be 13 without having to count. Strong fact fluency gives children the mental space to think about what they’re doing rather than how to do it. Once the basic facts are automatic, kids can focus on problem solving, multi-digit operations, or real-world applications like working with money.  Making Math Hands-On and MeaningfulHands-on learning is essential for building this understanding. Tools like ten frames, dice, counters, and fingers let children see and feel numbers. Fingers, in particular, are a natural resource; we carry a set of ten everywhere! They help kids visualize how two numbers combine to make ten and what’s left when we subtract from ten. Over time, they move from relying on fingers to imagining these patterns mentally. When children are actively involved in exploring numbers, they develop a deeper understanding of how numbers work together. Here are a few hands-on ways to help them build their basic fact knowledge and confidence. 1. Using Ten Frames Ten frames are a powerful visual tool for developing number sense. When students place counters on a ten frame, they can clearly see how numbers relate to ten.
 2. Rolling Dice to Make Tens Dice games are always a hit in the primary classroom! You can use traditional six-sided dice, for facts up to twelve, or for an extra challenge, try 10 or 20-sided dice for making tens or numbers up to 20. Have children roll the dice and find combinations that make ten. Over time, they’ll start to recognize number pairs that go together automatically, for example, 3 and 7, or 6 and 4. I’ve shared more ideas for using dice and ten frames together in a previous post: Making Tens with Dice and Ten Frames. 3. Counters for Combining and Taking Away Counters are great for modeling addition and subtraction. Let children physically move counters to show what happens when numbers are joined or separated. You can also challenge them to find different ways to make the same number, for example, how many different ways can they make 8? Making Tens And Counting MoneyLearning about tens is especially powerful here. When children can easily make and recognize tens, they are also preparing for understanding money. Even though we no longer use pennies in Canada, we still use the concept of ten pennies equalling one dime. It’s a concrete way for children to understand that ten smaller units combine to make one larger unit, the same base-ten idea used throughout math. Later, when children start learning about money, we can talk about rounding up or down to the nearest nickel to compensate for not having pennies, but for now, the idea of “ten makes one” helps everything click.  Building Number Sense Through Basic Facts StrategiesWorking with strategies, helps provide the tools needed to see patterns and learn the basic facts for addition and subtraction. Here are some anchor charts that can help remind children of the different strategies they can try to solve problems.  Not Everyone Solves Problems The Same WayI often tell my students that solving math problems is like using a road map. We may all start at the same place, but we don’t always take the same route to the answer. Some students might use ten frames, others might visualize numbers, and some might rely on their fingers. What matters is if they can explain their thinking and arrive at the destination. Roadblocks become learning opportunities, detours lead to new strategies, and every path helps deepen understanding. Consider having them share their “road maps” in pairs or small groups. Seeing multiple strategies and explaining reasoning builds understanding and confidence.  Reflect and ObserveHere are some reflection questions to consider:
 With lots of hands on activities and opportunities to practice using basic facts, kids can build a solid foundation that will help them successfully make sense of more complex situations, both with abstract ideas and real-life situations. After working with several students who struggled to understand even simple math problems, I can confidently say that once they had a solid understanding of basic facts, they finally were able to figure out more difficult problems, and some of them even began to enjoy math.  Math doesn't have to be a chore. It can be fun with games and activities that build skills. Keep adding that bit of fun and see how it makes a difference.   Related Posts Comments are closed.
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About Me Charlene Sequeira
I am a wife, mother of 4, grandmother of 9, and a retired primary and music teacher. I love working with kids and continue to volunteer at school and teach ukulele. 
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