WATCH THAT SIGN!

Use appropriate tools strategically is a practice recommended by the NCTM. Math experts emphasize the importance of focusing on signs because mistakes are often made when children do not look at the signs. Remind children that you always have to look at the traffic light when you drive so you’ll know when to stop and when to go. In math, you always need to look at the signs before you begin so you’ll know what to do. 

Math Signs (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
Math is fun to do.
Math is fun to do.
Always look at the signs
So you’ll know what to do.

Plus means add.
How many in all?
Put them altogether.
Plus means add.

Minus means subtract.
Take some away.
How many are left?
Minus means subtract.

Math is fun to do.
Math is fun to do
Always look at the signs
They’ll give you a clue.

Make signs for your classroom with key words similar to the one shown.
 

Math Toolkit - Fold a sheet of paper into fourths. Open and fold in half. Cut on the crease half way. Write “+” on one side and “-“ on the other side. Write key words that remind children to add under the “+.” (add, plus, put together, makes, in all, sum, etc.) Write key words for subtraction under the “-.” (minus, subtract, take away, less than, fewer, difference, left). For the equal sign write equals, is, are, the same as, etc.
  

Body Math
I have one more awesome idea for active learning for math. Children put their hands in the air and say a number. Touch their heads and say “plus” or “minus.” Touch their waist and say a second number. Touch knees and say “equals.” Touch feet and say the answer.
     Three (hands in the air)
     Plus (hands on head) 

     Four (hands on waist)
     Equals (touch knees) 

     Seven (touch toes)