Teach these facts with Right Next to Each Other:
10-9
9-8
8-7
7-6
6-5
5-4
4-3
3-2
In each of the above subtraction facts, the answer is 1.
When numbers are right next to each other in subtraction, the answer is 1!
First, student must understand that 10 is next to 9, 9 is next to 8, etc.
Also, be sure that the student can show what the subtraction fact means, before teaching the strategy. (You have ten items and take away nine items. One item is left.)
Two Plus Two Is Not Five: Easy Methods to Learn Addition and Subtraction teaches this strategy, and has lots of practice and review pages so that students will remember the answers!
Once students use Right Next to Each Other to remember that 10-9 = 1, and don’t have to count anymore to get the answer, think of how easy it will be to teach subtraction with regrouping!
50
– 9
80
– 9
Two column subtraction using the fact: 10-9.
60
-19
Three column subtraction using the fact: 10-9
409
-91
There are more tips for teaching addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts in this blog, and at http://www.twoplustwoisnotfive.com.

