A super way to help your child understand calculations is to ask them which strategy they used to calculate their answer/solution.
When they explain and tell you their strategy / workings it not only gives you an insight into their methods but it also helps your child consolidate their learning and understanding. It's almost as if they are the teacher explaining it to you. It also helps you to support them if they have misunderstood or need to rethink. We encourage this within school. If they have made a mistake, don't worry, that's how they learn through trial and error as well as problem solving. By encouraging them to think again it builds resilience and confidence to have a go.
There are many different ways to apply addition, subtraction, multiplication and subtraction strategies, while also using different vocabulary such as take away, sum of, times, split equally etc.
Give it a go, ask your child how did you work that out? Some children might even draw you their explanation.
Number Talks
