The Strategy Mat provides working spaces for students. Side 1 can be used for showing a number sequence on the Reverse 100 square and then translating it into the Counting sequences section. The centre of Side 1 of the mat can be used as a place where dice are thrown and subtractions carried out as part of a game such as Target Number 20. The subtraction can be recorded as a chunking diagram and/or on the empty number line.

Side 2 is the The See it, Say it, Show it side of the mat and is a scaffold for students. In order to become fluent with the strategies students need to have a visual record and constant reminder and reference tool. They need to be encouraged to articulate which strategy they can use for a particular set of numbers and also to say how this helps save brain space. For 36 – 23, for instance, students should be able to number split and just know that 30 – 20 is 10 and 6 – 3 is 3 which very quickly results in knowing that the answer is 13.

This subtraction mat supports the teaching of Year 2: ACMNA029 and ACMNA030 and Year 3: ACMNA054 and ACMNA055.

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