Ages 6 to 7
1st grade math: what your child learns, and how to help
1st grade math is mostly about adding and subtracting within 20, and tens and ones. Here is what that means, where children often get stuck, and simple ways to help at home.
What your child learns in 1st grade
Addition and subtraction within 20
Solve word problems, and know facts within 10 quickly. Use strategies like making ten (8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4).
The equal sign
Understand that = means "the same as", so 6 = 6 and 7 = 8 − 1 both make sense.
Tens and ones
Count, read and write to 120. Know that 47 is 4 tens and 7 ones, and compare two-digit numbers.
Adding within 100
Add a two-digit number and a one-digit number, or a multiple of ten, using place value.
Measuring, time and shapes
Measure length with units, tell time to the half hour, and split shapes into halves and fourths.
Based on the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Your state or school may order topics differently.
Where children often get stuck
- Counting on from the wrong number (5 + 3 counted as 5, 6, 7)
- Thinking = means "the answer comes next"
- Mixing up the tens and ones digits
How to help at home
- Use a 100 chart or egg cartons to show tens.
- Ask for two ways to solve the same problem.
- Write "__ + 3 = 9" puzzles instead of only "6 + 3 = __".
How Kidscient helps with 1st grade math
- It starts from your child's level, not their grade. A short, friendly check finds what your child can already do. Many children are ahead in some topics and behind in others.
- Homework help without answers. Your child snaps tonight's math homework and Curio helps with each problem by asking and hinting. Your child writes every answer. Code checks the arithmetic.
- Guided lessons on a whiteboard. Curio explains each step out loud while drawing it, then asks your child to try. Lessons open level by level; at the founding beta they start around the grade 4 level.
- Voice-first. Younger children who can't read or type yet can simply talk.
Parents also ask
What math is taught in 1st grade?
How can I help my 1st grader with math at home?
My child finds 1st grade math too easy. What should we do?
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