DIAGNOSING SUBTRACTION
A valuable tool to detect any trouble your child may have with subtraction. Contents of CD, available FREE for download. Follow the directions for use.
History
As a math teacher I always looked for ways to evaluate where my students were when they came to my class. I developed several diagnostic tools to accomplish this. This is just one of those tools and I am making it available to you. To refine this instrument I gave it to about 100 sixth graders. As I corrected each one I wrote down the wrong answers to the problems when whole rows were missed. That is how I came up with the possible wrong answers for each row. I omitted whole rows that didn't have patterns of mistakes.
How to Start
Click on and print the test off on your printer. Give your child plenty of time to do the test. This is not a race but an evaluation tool. The purpose is to help you know what help your child needs, if any. When the child has finished the test, you can run off the answer sheet. Click on and print it. Check the test using the answer sheet. If the student gets an answer wrong here and there I am not too concerned. What we are looking for is whole rows that are wrong. Each row has a built in trap to see how well your child understands a particular aspect of the subtraction process.
What Do I Do Next?
If you find that your child answered whole rows incorrectly, go back to the disc and click on the row that corresponds with the row in question. For example: If it was row H that was answered wrong, click on < DIAGNOSING ROW H >. You will see examples of common wrong answers. Match your child's answers with the corresponding sets of answers and read what the child is doing wrong, and how to correct it. Once the child understands what was done wrong, print off a practice sheet corresponding to the row in question and have your child do the sheet to reinforce the concept that you have just taught.
