The Mission to Learn Addition

The Mission to Learn Addition

By: Colton Glover

           

Mission: Addition by: Loreen Leedy is a great book for young children to read, specifically for math. This book contains many engaging strategies that not only allow the children to read but also apply what they are reading. Addition can be a tricky task for students to learn especially when other math methods are brought into play, such as subtraction, division, and multiplication.  Luckily, in this particular book it focuses solely on addition, which allows children to devote all their attention to this method of mathematics. Throughout this book we learn that addition is a fact. You can change the order of the addends and it does not change the sum. I think that fact links well to the CCGPS MCCK.CC.4 B: which states, “understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted. The number of objects is the same regardless of the arrangement or the order in which they were counted.” Mission: Addition allows children to view math in a fun way, which can help keep the interested in this content.

Though it may seem ridiculous that a child could learn from a book with students that are talking animals, it shows us how a math topic can be fun and interesting. One stormy day Miss Prime, the teacher, has her students pretend they are detectives and has them find clues left behind by a mysterious person who ate all the cookies off her desk. Each student checks a different place in the classroom. Each student found something a little different at each location. For example, Talley checked the windows for evidence, Fay checked for hair, and Ginger checked for the footprints. When the students thought they knew who did it they reported back to Miss Prime with their evidence. As they are regrouped to discuss who they thought ate all of Miss Prime’s cookies, Miss Prime had each student add up all their evidence. Talley added up each window, Fay counted each piece of hair, and Ginger counted each fingerprint. In the end, with all the evidence added up, they found out Miss Prime was the culprit.

Even though this may seem far-fetched to some, it provides a great learning strategy for young children to practice addition. It is amazing what children are capable of when we allow them to use their imagination to apply the things they learn throughout life. If we don’t find ways to keep them engaged they will lose interest. It is harder to regain the same initiative, than it is to maintain what you already have.