Basic Subtraction for Kids | Counting Back on Number Lines | Addition and Subtraction Calculations

Basic Subtraction for Kids | Counting Back on Number Lines | Addition and Subtraction Calculations

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Did you know that the word subtract could be substituted with other words like minus, remove, take away? That's how kids get introduced to basic subtraction at the beginning of the journey. In this video, the focus is on teaching kids basic subtraction and how to count back on number lines.

What is basic subtraction? Basic subtraction is about the basic rules that kids should learn when it comes to counting back and taking away. First of all, subtraction is not the same as addition, the bigger number should always come first and the smaller number should be taken from it, there is not reordering like addition (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdux-Xn35qE). Second, basic subtraction is about the two numbers only in the equation without overloading it with lots of numbers.

Number line is one of the helpful methods that kids could use to do their addition and subtraction calculations because it gives them the chance to count their jumps and calculate the final number (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn2YBpCIzis). Subtraction is the same as counting back and that's how the kids will count the difference on the number line, they will use the smaller number in the equation to count the jumps that will need to be made and that's how they calculate the difference and bring the final answer.

How to use the number line for subtraction? Blank number lines are used to help the child on jumping and counting on them. Since this is about basic subtraction then the jump will be down backwards. If the mathematical equation which the child will need to solve is 4-3 for example then they will write down the 4 and then jump backwards three times to be 3, 2, 1 and this means that 4-3=1.

This is one of the different mental math strategies that are taught to the kids out there and that's why kids could start by recording their steps and numbers on a piece of paper, but they should eventually come to the point of doing these different calculations in their minds without the need for using the paper. At some point and after practicing, the kids themselves will reach the point of managing to do the calculations without writing them down because their minds will get used to it all.

There are different other methods through which parents could teach their kids subtraction while homeschooling them, such as using the small Lego blocks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsQHpE6D6PQ), using different toys and small characters which the kids already own (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ART8iVG3yHg), using play doh (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw91epryD28) and lots of other techniques and methods that would help in making the whole lesson much easier for the child.

Practicing is very important when it comes to educating the child because learning is all about trying several times and about making mistakes. Help the child to practice several times, know the different vocabulary and terminology used, and let the kids start with recording their steps before they eventually come to the part of depending on their mental skills only.

Parents should never worry because kids are different and some might take more time to learn something than others and some might find specific methods much more interesting for them than others, etc. so parents should choose the method according to the interests of the child and at the same time let them move with their own pace by offering a little bit of help throughout the way.

Basic subtraction for kids should always start with small numbers before going up to reach the bigger ones. Let the kids get the whole idea behind basic subtraction through the small numbers which are easier for them to calculate, and then move forward with teaching them how to do the same but with bigger numbers.

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