Putting Essential Understanding of Addition and Subtraction

This comprehensive 152-page professional development resource from NCTM equips Pre-K through grade 2 educators with specialized pedagogical content knowledge for teaching addition and subtraction effectively. Written by Janet H. Caldwell, Beth Kobett, and Karen Karp, this softcover guide addresses common student misconceptions, such as the belief that addition always makes numbers bigger or that subtraction only means taking away. The book presents research-based strategies and carefully designed tasks that help teachers assess student understanding, identify gaps in reasoning, and guide learners toward deeper mathematical comprehension. Through practical examples and questioning techniques, educators learn to build on students' existing knowledge while correcting misunderstandings that may hinder progress. This standard edition focuses on big ideas and essential understandings crucial for computational success in current coursework, higher-level mathematics, and real-world applications. Published in 2014, this English-language teaching resource measures 10 inches by 7 inches and serves as an invaluable tool for mathematics educators seeking to strengthen their instructional practice in early elementary arithmetic.