Hamilton's Math Update 9-22-25
Dear Family,
In this chapter, your student is adding numbers with sums up to 20. Your student is learning mental math strategies for adding numbers. These strategies are helping your student develop mathematical proficiency and problem solving skills.
The vocabulary words students will review in this chapter are addend, doubles, doubles minus 1, doubles plus 1, and sum.
There are many situations outside of school that you can use to model adding numbers. Shopping is a great place to start! Here are a few ways to help your student practice math skills while you shop.
- Model adding three numbers by separating the items in the shopping cart into three groups. Ask your student to count the number of objects in each group. Then ask, “How many are in each group? What is the sum of the three numbers? How can you make a 10 to add the three numbers?”
- Show your student the coins you receive as change after paying. Have your student count the coins (10 or fewer). Ask, “How many pennies? Dimes? Nickels? What is the sum if you add these three numbers? What is double that number?”
- To model counting on, show your student a number of items. Then tell your student that you need a specific number more (with a total less than 20). For example, “There are 9 apples in the cart. Suppose we pick up 5 more. Count on to find the total number we will have.”
- Model other scenarios, making sure to use terms such as “doubles,” “addend,” and “sum.” By the end of this chapter, your student should feel confident with the learning targets and success criteria on the next page. Encourage your student to think of other opportunities to practice adding numbers. Enjoy shopping and learning together!