From: Anna McKnight <ejamck@yahoo.com>
To: Teacher2Teacher Public Discussion
Date: 2002030121:26:30
Subject: Using counters to subtract integers

	Do you use counters to show subraction?? Every on line site seems to
focus on using number lines - which  is what I learned in school and
am familiar with anyhow! Explanations of why it's ok to use the
opposite operation are skimpy to non-existant...

Our text uses red and yellow counters which were great when adding,
but the use of positive negative pairs to subtract seems to have the
kids bogged down. 

Do you have any suggestions on how to explain the logic and theory
behind why this works? How to make user friendly diagrams or posters?

Thanks for any and all ideas!!!
Anna

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