If your child is having trouble memorizing addition facts, try these tricks to encourage him/her to gain more familiarity with the number sentences.  These tricks help make the facts stick!

 

1.  Doubles - two of the same addend.

 

      These are easy to remember because the addends are the same.

      They are very important because, as you'll see, the other tricks

      rely on them, too.

 

      6 + 6 = 12      7 + 7 = 14      8 + 8 = 16

 

 

 2.  Side by Side - Use when numbers are next to each other on the

                         number line.  Double the lower addend and then

                         add 1.

 

      6 + 7 --> Double 6 and then add 1

      6 + 6 = 12 + 1 = 13

 

 

3.  Invisible Numbers - Use when numbers are 2 places away from each

                                other on the number line ( one number missing in

                                the middle).  Double the invisible number to find

                                the sum.

 

      6 + 8 -->    7 is the number in the middle

      7 + 7 = 14  so  6 + 8 = 14

 

 

4.  Naughty Nines - Use when one addend is nine.  9 steals one from the

                           other number to make 10 and leaves one less for the

                           other addend.

 

      9 + 6 -->       (9 "steals" or takes 1 from 6)

      (10 + 5)         so  9 + 6 = 15