Workshop: Subtraction Practice

Have students identify their favorite strategies for subtraction and tell them to their partners. Then pose a problem (such as 182 – 95) and tell students to solve it two ways, i.e., using their own and their partners’ strategies. If the favorite strategies are the same, have each student select a different strategy from the Subtraction Strategies Menu for their second method. Each student then explains to his or her partner one of the ways for solving the problem. Ask students to focus on identifying all the steps in their explanations and to explain why the particular strategy may or may not be efficient for solving this particular problem.

Assign the Subtraction Strategies Quiz in the Student Activity Book for students to complete individually. Provide access to base-ten pieces, number lines, the 200 Chart, and the Subtraction Strategies Menu in the Student Activity Book Reference section.