1.OA.6: Addition and Subtraction Fluency

I can add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10.

What Your Child Needs to Know

This standard focuses on helping your child develop fluency with addition and subtraction facts. First graders need to quickly and accurately add and subtract numbers within 10 (like 7+3 or 9-5), and be able to solve addition and subtraction problems within 20 using various strategies.

Fluency means your child can solve these problems efficiently, accurately, and flexibly. This skill is essential for future math success as it allows children to focus on new concepts rather than struggling with basic calculations.

Real World Practice

Visual models and hands-on activities

Visual Models

1. Number Line

Use a number line to show addition as moving right and subtraction as moving left. This helps visualize the operations.

2. Ten Frames

Use ten frames to show combinations that make 10, which helps with quick recall of facts within 10.

3. Fact Family Houses

Draw a house with four related facts (e.g., 6+4=10, 4+6=10, 10-4=6, 10-6=4) to show the relationship between addition and subtraction.

4. Double Facts

Visualize doubles (like 5+5=10) and near doubles (like 5+6=11) to help with quick recall of these common facts.

Everyday Activities

1. Math Basketball

Write addition and subtraction facts on paper balls. Your child solves the problem, then tries to toss the ball into a basket.

2. Fact Family Card Game

Create cards with numbers 1-10. Draw three cards (e.g., 5, 3, 8) and have your child create all four related facts.

3. Addition War

Play with a deck of cards where each player flips two cards and adds them. Highest sum wins the round.

4. Domino Math

Use dominoes to practice addition and subtraction by adding or subtracting the dots on each half.

Quick Checks

Strategies and quick activities

Strategies When Your Child Struggles

1. Practice Make-10 Strategy

For problems like 8+5, teach your child to break 5 into 2+3, then do 8+2=10, then 10+3=13.

2. Use Doubles

If your child knows 6+6=12, they can use this to solve 6+7 by thinking "6+6=12, so 6+7 is one more, which is 13."

3. Count On From Larger Number

For 3+8, teach your child to start with 8 (the larger number) and count up 3 more: "8...9, 10, 11."

4. Fact Families

If your child struggles with 15-8, remind them of the related fact: "You know 8+7=15, so 15-8 must be 7."

5. Ten Frames

Use ten frames to help your child visualize numbers and quickly recognize combinations that make 10.

5-Minute Practice Activities

Activity 1: Flash Card Speed Rounds

Practice with flash cards for 3-5 minutes daily. Time how many facts your child can solve in one minute and track improvement.

Activity 2: Fact Family Triangles

Draw triangles with three numbers (e.g., 4, 6, 10). Have your child write the four related facts (4+6=10, 6+4=10, 10-4=6, 10-6=4).

Activity 3: Missing Number

Write equations with missing numbers (8+__=15 or __-3=4) and have your child fill in the blanks.

Activity 4: Dice Addition/Subtraction

Roll two dice and add or subtract the numbers. For more challenge, use three dice for problems within 20.

Check Progress

Track improvement

By the middle of the year, your child should:

  • Add and subtract within 10 using strategies
  • Use counting on, making ten, and decomposing numbers
  • Begin to memorize some addition facts within 10

By the end of the year, your child should:

  • Add and subtract within 20 using various strategies
  • Demonstrate fluency with addition and subtraction within 10
  • Apply strategies like making ten and creating equivalent expressions
  • Explain their mental strategies for solving problems

Mastery Signs

Your child understands this concept when they can:

  • Recall addition and subtraction facts within 10 from memory
  • Use efficient strategies for facts within 20
  • Apply multiple strategies depending on the numbers involved
  • Explain which strategy works best for different problems
  • Solve problems quickly and accurately

Differentiation

Support for all learning levels

Below Grade Level

Practice problems focusing on addition and subtraction facts within 5, using visual supports and concrete objects.

📥 Download Practice Worksheet

At Grade Level

Standard practice with addition and subtraction facts within 10 for fluency and strategies for facts within 20.

📥 Download Grade Level Worksheet

Above Grade Level

Advanced practice with mental math strategies for addition and subtraction within 20 and beyond.

📥 Download Challenge Worksheet