Episode 164 - The Power of Using Inverse Operations to Subtract & Divide

The Build Math Minds Podcast

There are 4 main strategies children tend to use to solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. These math strategies are not tricks. Their foundations are built on number relationships and properties of operations. In the Math Strategy Sessions we have already explored 3 of the strategies and our next session is focused on helping kids use and understand the Inverse Operation Strategy (https://buildmathminds.com/strategy-sessions to register). This is more than just helping kids know Fact Families, it’s about helping them understand the meanings of the operations and the connections between Addition-Subtraction and Multiplication-Division. Helping your students develop the Inverse Operation Strategy will last them the rest of their lives. In this episode I’m sharing the first books I read that highlighted the importance of helping kids develop the strategy. I never learned I could solve a subtraction problem with addition (or division with multiplication) until I was an adult. Kids should be building this understanding way before I did. Get any links mentioned in this video at BuildMathMinds.com/164