To help your child memorize addition and subtraction facts, teach one strategy at a time, such as +1, doubles or make 10, and only ask for speed once that strategy makes sense. Then practice a small group of those facts for about five minutes a day, so quick recall grows out of understanding instead of rote drilling.
That's the whole idea. The rest of this page gives you the order to follow, a simple way to find your child's starting point, and a home routine that fits between dinner and bath time.
Why strategies come before speed
A child who memorizes 8 + 7 = 15 as a random string can lose it by Friday. A child who thinks "8 + 7 is one more than 7 + 7, and 7 + 7 is 14" can rebuild the answer any time. Once the thinking is fast, recall follows.
Starting with speed tends to backfire. Kids who feel rushed often fall back on counting on their fingers, and some start to see math as something they're "bad at." Strategy first keeps them calm and gives them a tool they can use even when they get stuck.
The strategy ladder: what to teach, in order
Each step builds on the one before it. Move on when your child answers a level's facts comfortably, not after a set number of days.
| Step | Strategy | Example | The thinking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +0 and +1 | 6 + 1 | "One more than 6" |
| 2 | +2 | 7 + 2 | "Count two more: 8, 9" |
| 3 | Doubles | 6 + 6 | Facts kids remember quickly |
| 4 | Make 10 | 7 + 3 | Pairs that fill a ten frame |
| 5 | +10 | 10 + 5 | "Ten and five is fifteen" |
| 6 | Near doubles | 6 + 7 | "Double 6, plus one more" |
| 7 | +9 and +8 | 9 + 5 | "Make it 10 + 5, then take one away" |
| 8 | Mixed addition | — | Pick the strategy that fits |
| 9 | −0, −1, −2 | 9 − 2 | Count back a little |
| 10 | Subtract from 10 | 10 − 4 | Use the make-10 pairs backward |
| 11 | Think addition | 13 − 5 | "5 plus what makes 13?" |
| 12 | Mixed subtraction | — | Pick the strategy that fits |
Kindergartners usually work on the first few steps (+0, +1, +2, doubles and make 10). First and second graders keep climbing through all of facts within 20.
Find the starting point first
Don't start at step 1 just because it comes first. Give a short mixed check that covers every step and note the first strategy where your child slips. Start there. You'll skip the facts they already know and spend your time where it matters.
A 5-minute daily routine at home
- One minute: warm up with the strategy. Say it out loud together: "Doubles plus one."
- Two minutes: play. Use flash cards or a quick board game with just this level's facts.
- One minute: mix in review. Add a few facts from earlier levels.
- One minute: celebrate. Mark progress on a chart your child can see.
Short and steady works better than one long weekend session. Five calm minutes beat twenty tearful ones.
Using timed checks without the stress
A short timed check can tell you when your child is ready to move up. It shouldn't be the lesson itself. Keep checks brief, give them every so often instead of every day, and have your child compete only with their own last score. If a check goes badly, go back to the strategy for a few days and try again.
Games keep facts fun
Repetition doesn't have to feel like a worksheet. Partner board games, flash cards with the answer on the back so kids can check themselves, and "solve it, then hop that many times" movement breaks all give lots of practice without the boredom.
Print-and-go practice from VaultPrintCo
If you'd like this whole path ready to print, our Fact Fluency Within 20 set on TpT follows the same ladder. It's made for K–2, and kindergarten starts on the early levels.
- 12 Dino Egg levels, from +0 and +1 up to mixed subtraction within 20
- A placement check to show where each child should start
- For every level, a strategy card, an egg practice page, a Dino Egg Race board game for two players, and flash cards with answer backs
- Two timed checks per level. Kids earn claws, and a full set hatches the egg.
- Trackers, a class data sheet and a letter to families
- Answer keys, plus a black-and-white ink-saver set
It's print-and-go, in color or black and white, and it works for home practice, tutoring, centers or intervention groups.
👉 Get Fact Fluency Within 20 on TpT Or browse our full TpT store.
FAQ
Should I use timed tests for math facts?
Use them sparingly. A short timed check is useful for seeing whether a strategy has become automatic and your child is ready for the next one. Daily speed drills tend to cause anxiety and finger-counting. Keep checks brief, compare only to your child's own last score, and spend most practice time on strategies and games.
What order should I teach addition strategies in?
Start with +0 and +1, then +2, doubles and make 10. After that come +10, near doubles, and +9 and +8, which lean on the make-10 idea. Finish with mixed practice so your child learns to pick the right strategy for each fact. Then move on to subtraction.
How do I help my child with subtraction facts?
Link subtraction to the addition your child already knows. Begin with taking away 0, 1 or 2, then subtracting from 10 using make-10 pairs. Next, teach "think addition": for 13 − 5, ask "5 plus what makes 13?" That turns one hard fact into one they already have.
My child still counts on their fingers. Is that okay?
Yes, as a starting point. Finger counting shows your child understands what adding means. The goal is to give them faster tools. Doubles, make 10 and near doubles let them reach answers without counting each one. Gently encourage those strategies, and finger use usually fades as the facts become familiar.
How many minutes a day should we practice math facts?
About five minutes a day is enough for most K–2 kids. Short, regular practice helps facts stick better than long, occasional sessions. Use a quick strategy reminder, a game or flash cards, and a few review facts. Stop while it still feels fun, and keep the routine going most days.