How To Easily Teach Math Intervention for Addition to 5 With Cubes

This Kindergarten-level intervention focuses explicitly on entry-level skills for addition. Before the students understand what the plus and equals symbols mean, we must establish the “and” and “is” concept – "and" meaning two groups of objects, and “is” meaning the combination of the two together.

This intervention is going to cover five categories:

• Introduction

• Teacher Modeling

• Differentiation

• Independent Practice

• Assessment

Introduction

First, we are going to display two blue cubes and one green cube. When they come together and become one, we use the terms "in all," "together," or "is." Eventually we'll transition to saying “equals.”

As you have these two groups of objects laid out on your table, we will ask the students to observe and think about what they see quietly. We want them to be accessing previous knowledge they might bring to the table about combining things and putting things together. What are they noticing?

We're asking the students to do this quietly because the minute one student blurts out a concept, a connection, or their thoughts, it will stop all the others from thinking. They will focus directly on what that one student said, whether it's correct or incorrect.

After a few seconds of thinking time, go ahead and combine the objects to form one group. Place the grouping on the table in front of the students, reminding them to think quietly. Repeat the action at least three more times using different cube combinations.

In the second demonstration, try three orange cubes and two pink cubes. Connect your cubes and once again, lay them out on the table. As you connect, emphasize the numbers in each grouping and use the academic vocabulary of "and" and "is" as you move your hands.

Finally, our last grouping will be two purple cubes and two green cubes. Go ahead and connect those and lay them out on the table.