Number Bonds

Hands-on manipulatives or real life objects are used to demonstrate the concept, then students use and create pictorial representations. This visual step provides a transition from the words to an abstract algorithm. The goal is always to use the concrete and visual components to get to a standard algorithm.

To gain number sense, students are taught to make connections between topics. While first graders will still work on “fact families”, Math In Focus also uses a pictorial representation called a “Number Bond” to help students see the connections between addition and subtraction.