Mental Maths

Are you tired of your students struggling with basic addition? Discover the Counting On Mental Maths Strategy – a fun and effective teaching approach for all mental maths programs.

Hey teacher friends! Welcome to our Counting-on teacher resources, this strategy is one of the easiest and possibly the first mental math strategies that you will teach your students.

This strategy is an essential building block for developing a mental maths strategy tool kit, it’s a must for helping students to build mental math fluency and the ability to do maths in their heads!

Counting-On Mental Maths Strategy in The Curriculum

Before we get started, let’s take a look at where this mental maths strategy can be found in the Australian Mathematics Curriculum.

In Year 1, students are expected to develop their understanding of number concepts and counting, including Counting On from any number.

By Year 2, they should be able to use mental strategies for addition and subtraction, including Counting On from the larger number.

How To Teach Counting-On Strategy

So, how can we teach our students to Count On by 1, 2 or 3?

Here are a few tips to get started:

1. Use visual aids

Visual aids are a great way to help students understand the mental strategy of Counting On. Try using number lines, counters, or even your fingers to model the process of Counting On from a given number before encouraging students to do the process in their heads.

2. Make it a game

Counting On by 1, 2 or 3 can be a lot of fun when you turn it into a game. Try playing a “Counting On Race” where students have to Count On as quickly as possible to beat their classmates.

3. Use real-world examples

To help students understand why Counting On is important, try using real-world examples. For example, if you’re counting how many pieces of pizza are left, you might start by saying “We have four pieces left. If we add one more, how many pieces will we have?” This can help students see the practical application of Counting On.

4. Practice, practice, practice

Finally, the key to mastering any mental math strategy is practice. Make sure to provide plenty of opportunities for students to practice Counting On by 1, 2 or 3.

So there you have it! Counting On by 1, 2 or 3 is a powerful mental math strategy that can help students develop their number sense and problem-solving skills.

Check out our Counting On Maths Resources if you want engaging and effective tools to teach mental math addition strategies in your classroom. Below you will find a range of hands-on, games, and activities that will help your students develop their number sense and improve their problem-solving skills.

Get started today and watch your students’ math abilities and confidence grow!