Assistant Addition Guide Teacher Assistant Resource
Weeklong Addition Guide: Objects to 20
40 Min Daily Plan
Built-in Movement Breaks
40-Minute Daily Structure (With Built-in Break) All 5 Days
Part 1 (8m) Hands-on Warm Up
Part 2 (10m) Direct / Slides
Part 3 (4m) ⚡ Movement Break
Part 4 (13m) Workbook Practice
Part 5 (5m) Star Reflection
Daily 4-Minute Brain & Movement Break Menu
Day 1: Object Clap Clap & stomp: 5 claps for left group, 3 stomps for right group, jump together (8)!
Day 2: Ten Frame Freeze 10 high knees in place, then freeze in a starfish shape showing "ten"!
Day 3: Kangaroo Hops Students crouch, lock a number, and hop forward 4 kangaroo jumps on the floor.
Day 4: Bridge Crossing Arm stretches across the midline: "Pass 1 over to make 10, wiggle fingers!"
Day 5: Quest High-Five Partner mirror dance and double-ten hand claps before the celebratory quest check.
1 Day 1 Facilitation Script: Joining Objects to 10
40 Mins Total
Warm-Up (8m)
Counters on Mat: Distribute 10 counters to each student. Guide them to build a pile of 4 red bears and 3 yellow bears. Prompt: "Touch each bear as you count. How many in each team?"
Model (10m)
Slide & Join Strategy: Push the groups together. Model writing the addition sentence on the tabletop whiteboard: 4 + 3 = 7. Repeat with 5 + 4 = 9.
Break (4m)
Object Clap Energizer: Have everyone stand up. Clap 4 times high in the air, stomp 3 times on the rug, then do 7 big jumps saying: "4 plus 3 equals 7!"
Practice (13m)
Student Workbook Page 1: Have students open their Addition Quest Student Workbook to Page 1. Guide them to cross-touch pictorial sets and record equations.
Debrief (5m)
Star Reflection: Students share their star challenge problem and give themselves a celebratory stamp.
Attention Reset Tip
If focus wanes during the 40-minute block, trigger a 30-second finger tap: "Tap 1-2-3 on your knees, hands on shoulders, eyes on the mat!"
All-in-One Workbook Note
Each student receives the 5-page printable Addition Quest Student Workbook . They keep the same booklet for all 5 days of instruction!
Teacher Assistant Intervention Toolkit • Objects to 20 40-Minute Master Schedule
Addition Quest Student Workbook Kindergarten & 1st Grade Math Intervention
Twenty Quest Addition
My Complete Weeklong Addition & Hands-On Math Packet
Student:
Teacher/TA:
Date:
My 5-Day Quest Passport Collect All 5 Stars!
Day 1 🍎 Join Sets to 10
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Day 2 🔟 Ten-Frames to 15
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Day 3 🐸 Count On & Lines
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Day 4 🌉 Make Ten Bridge
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Day 5 🏆 Quest Mastery
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My Hands-On Tools This Week: Plastic Counting Bears, Snap Cubes & Activity Mats (Included in Back!)
Keep Safe in Folder
Student Workbook • 8 Pages Complete Page 1 of 8
Day 1 • Workbook
Joining Sets Worksheet
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Directions: Count the objects in each group. Touch and count them all together to find the sum.
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Star Challenge
Draw 4 dots in the box, then draw 4 more. Total dots?
Day 2 • Workbook
Ten Frame Builders Worksheet
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Directions: Top frame is 10! Count on extra objects in frame 2. Complete the sentence!
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Nonverbal Addition Facilitation Guide Special Education & TA Protocol
Non-Verbal & Semi-Non-Verbal Addition Guide
Objects to 20
AAC & Tactile Framework
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Key Principle: Never require spoken output to demonstrate mathematical understanding. Accept eye gaze , direct pointing , object placement , or number card selection .
Mini AAC Communication & Choice Strip (Point to Communicate) Student Points to Respond
👉🐻 Count
➕ Put Together
🔟 Make 10
❓ How Many?
👍 Yes / More
✋ Finished
Day-by-Day Task-Analyzed Teaching Steps
Day 1: Physical Push & 2-Choice Number Cards (Sums to 10) Joining Sets
Setup: Place 3 red bears in Den A and 2 blue bears in Den B on the Bear Mat.Cue: Model placing your hands on both groups: "Put together!" (Point to ➕ icon).Action: Use hand-under-hand or gentle elbow prompt to slide both groups into the Meadow.Response: Touch-point each bear together: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Present a 2-choice card array (e.g. [5] and [8]). Student points to or eye-gazes at the correct number card [5].
Day 2: Ten-Frame Pre-Filled Base + Ones Selection (Sums to 15) Ten-Frames
Anchor: Keep Frame 1 pre-filled with 10 snap cubes. Student slides a finger across the 10-stick; TA signs or shows card [10] .Addition: Hand student 3 green snap cubes one by one. Student places them in Frame 2.Verification: TA taps the [10] card, then taps each extra cube: 11, 12, 13. Present numeral choices [13] vs [16].
Day 3: Non-Verbal "Lock & Hop" (Sums to 18) Counting On
Physical Lock: Place a textured number tile (e.g., [12]) into student's hand. Student presses the tile down onto the table to "lock it".Hop: Using a toy frog or their index finger, guide hops along the tactile 0–20 line: 13, 14, 15, 16.Landing Confirmation: Student drops a chip on the landing number (16) on the number line.
Day 4: Cube Bridge Sliding (Sums to 20) Make Ten
Visual Gap: Frame 1 has 9 cubes (highlight the 1 empty slot with yellow tape). Frame 2 has 4 cubes.
Ten Frame Quest Slides Day 2 Math Workshop Adding Objects Up to 20
Ten-Frame Power!
Discover the magic secret: fill up ten objects first, then count on the extras!
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A full top row is 5!
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Strategy 1: The Magic Ten Frame
Step 1
When it's full, you don't need to recount!
Once all 10 spots have an object, lock the number in your mind:
"That is 10!"
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TA Note: Have students slap their knees gently and chant: "Full frame means TEN!"
Model: 10 + 3 Objects
Step 2
1 Full Frame = 10
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3 Extra Objects
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"10 ... 11, 12, 13!" • 10 + 3 = 13 Objects
Say it together: 10 plus 3 equals 13 1 ten and 3 ones
Guided Turn: Solve Together
Step 3
How many stars are in the sky?
10 Stars (Full!)
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6 Stars (5 and 1 more)
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Equation: 10 + 6 = 16
TA Question: "Who can start at 10 and count on the remaining 6 stars out loud?"
Ready for Practice Worksheet Time
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Time for Ten-Frame Builders!
1 Look at the full ten-frame (say "10").
2 Count the extra objects in the second frame.
3 Write your addition sentence and total!
Grab your pencils and counter chips!
Bear and Cube Activity Mats 🐻
Hands-On Manipulatives Mat
Counting Bear Addition Den
Place Real Bears Here!
TA Routine: 1. Place bears in Den A & B • 2. Slide all bears into the Big Meadow • 3. Count total up to 20!
🌲 Den A (First Group)
🐻 🐻 🐻 Place First Group of Bears Here
Count each bear as you place it
🌲 Den B (Second Group)
🐻 🐻 🐻 Place Second Group of Bears Here
Count each bear as you place it
↓ Slide Both Teams of Bears Together ↓
🌻 The Big Bear Meadow (Total Joined) Touch & Count All Bears!
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Record Your Work:
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Reusable Station Mat
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Snap Cube Building Mat
Snap Cube Ten-Frame Bridge
Snap Cubes on Grid
Snap Cube Steps: 1. Build Tower 1 & 2 • 2. Slide cubes along the bridge lane to complete 10 • 3. Read total!
Frame 1: Anchor Ten-Frame (Fill to 10!) Fits Snap Cubes
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🌉 Make-Ten Bridge Lane: "Detach 1 or 2 cubes from Frame 2 and slide them up to fill Frame 1 into a full 10!"
Frame 2: Extra Cubes (Count on beyond 10) Leftover Ones
+1 (11)
+2 (12)
+3 (13)
+4 (14)
+5 (15)
+6 (16)
+7 (17)
+8 (18)
+9 (19)
+10 (20)
Original:
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Snap Cube Table Mat
Counting On Facilitator Guide Day 3 TA Guide
The "Lock & Count" Routine
40-Minute Lesson
Movement Break Built In
The Physical Anchor: "Lock & Tap"
Students gently tap their fist to their temple: "Lock 12!" Then count forward with finger taps: "13, 14, 15!"
✊🧠 Lock: "12" → 👉🍎 "13, 14, 15!"
Day 3 Lesson Schedule (40 Minutes)
1 Mystery Cup Warm-Up (8 Mins)
Concrete
Place 11 counters inside an opaque cup labeled "11". Put 4 on the table. Prompt: "We know 11 are inside! Lock 11 in your mind. Touch the outside cubes: 12, 13, 14, 15!"
2 Number Line Hop Modeling (10 Mins)
Representation
Draw a 0–20 line on the whiteboard. Circle 13. Model drawing 4 forward jumps with a toy frog: 14, 15, 16, 17!
⚡ Kangaroo Hop Movement Break (4 Mins)
Energizer
All students stand in a line. TA calls: "Lock 10!" Students crouch and make 5 huge frog/kangaroo hops across the rug, chanting out loud: "11... 12... 13... 14... 15!" Repeat with "Lock 12, hop 4!"
3 Workbook Practice: Page 3 (13 Mins)
Application
Students complete Page 3 in their Addition Quest Student Workbook (Counting On & Number Line Jumps).
4 Partner Game & Debrief (5 Mins)
Closing
Quick flash: Partner A flashes a number card (13), Partner B rolls 1-3 dice dots and counts on.
What if they recount from 1?
Physically cover the first set with a post-it note: "You already know it's 12. Don't lift the paper! Start at 12 and tap my fingers."
Look-Fors & Mastery
Student identifies the larger number immediately without counting from 1, and counts consecutive numbers fluidly.
Teacher Assistant Resource • Counting On Strategy 40-Minute Lesson 3
Make Ten Bridge Slides Day 4 Strategy Workshop Adding Objects Up to 20
The "Make a Ten" Bridge!
Why add hard numbers when you can make a super easy 10? Watch the objects jump!
Start With:
9 + 4 Objects
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Move 1 Over:
10 + 3 Objects
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Total Sum:
13
Step 1: The Nine Needs Just ONE!
Strategy Focus
Look at the top frame!
There are 9 purple gems . It has only ONE empty spot left to become a full 10!
"Borrow 1 from the next group to make a fast 10!"
9 Gems (1 Spot Empty!)
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TA Cue: Ask students, "How many empty spots do you see? Where can we get 1 more?"
Step 2: Watch 1 Object Jump Over!
Object Movement
Now It's a FULL 10!
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3 Leftover Stars
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9 + 4 → 10 + 3 = 13
"10 and 3 more is easy-peasy thirteen!"
Step 3: What About Eight? (Needs 2!)
8 + 5 Objects
8 needs 2 objects to become 10!
Original Equation: 8 + 5 = ?
Decompose the 5: 5 is (2 + 3)
Make Friendly Ten: 8 + 2 = 10, then 10 + 3 = 13!
Hands-on Move: Have students physically slide 2 cubes from the group of 5 to join the 8!
Your Turn to Build Make Ten Challenge
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Time to Cross the Make-Ten Bridge!
On your worksheet, draw an arrow to move dots into the first ten-frame. Make a ten and find the sum up to 20!
Teacher Assistant: Circulate and verify students circle the newly formed 10!
Bear and Cube Task Cards 🐻✂️
Manipulative Station Cards
Counting Bear Mission Cards
Cut along dashed lines • Set A: Bears
🐻 Bear Mission 1 Level: Easy
Place 5 red bears in Den A and 4 green bears in Den B.
Slide them into the Meadow & count all!
Record: 5 + 4 = [ ]
🐻 Bear Mission 2 Ten-Frame Base
Fill Den A with 10 yellow bears . Put 3 blue bears in Den B.
Say: "10 and 3 more is..."
Record: 10 + 3 = [ ]
🐻 Bear Mission 3 Lock & Count
Put 12 orange bears in Den A. Put 4 purple bears in Den B.
Lock 12! Tap and count on: 13, 14, 15...
Record: 12 + 4 = [ ]
🐻 Bear Mission 4 Make Ten
Put 9 green bears in Den A. Put 5 yellow bears in Den B.
Move 1 bear to make 10! Now 10 + 4 = ?
Record: 9 + 5 → 10 + [ ] = [ ]
🐻 Bear Mission 5 Count-On to 18
Put 13 red bears in Den A. Put 5 blue bears in Den B.
Touch each spot on the 20-Meadow track!
Record: 13 + 5 = [ ]
🐻 Bear Mission 6 Grand 20 Finale
Put 14 yellow bears in Den A. Put 6 green bears in Den B.
Can you fill every single spot to reach 20?
Record: 14 + 6 = [ ]
Cut cards apart • Store with counting bears in a zip-bag Page 1 of 2
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Manipulative Station Cards
Snap Cube Tower Challenges
Cut along dashed lines • Set B: Cubes
🧱 Cube Challenge 1 Make Ten Bridge
Snap 9 blue cubes into Frame 1. Snap 4 red cubes into Frame 2.
Slide 1 red cube across the bridge lane!
Record: 9 + 4 = 10 + 3 = [ ]
🧱 Cube Challenge 2 Make Ten Bridge
Snap 8 green cubes into Frame 1. Snap 5 yellow cubes into Frame 2.
Detach 2 yellow cubes to fill Frame 1 to 10!
Record: 8 + 5 = 10 + 3 = [ ]
🧱 Cube Challenge 3 Tower Train
Build a solid 10-cube tower of one color. Snap 7 extra cubes of another color.
Snap them all together into one giant train!
Quest Rubric Answer Key Educator & TA Evaluation Tool
Quest Rubric & Answer Key
Day 5 Summative Check
Sums to 20 Evaluation
Item Answer Key & Strategy Look-Fors
1. Cupcakes: 4 + 4 Answer: 8
Look-for: Counts all or knows doubles fact.
2. Rockets: 6 + 3 Answer: 9
Look-for: Starts at 6 and counts 7, 8, 9.
3. Ten Frame: 10 + 3 Answer: 13
Look-for: Recognizes 1 ten + 3 ones without recount.
4. Ten Frame: 10 + 5 Answer: 15
Look-for: Immediately says fifteen.
5. Lock & Count: 14 + 4 Answer: 18
Look-for: Touches each coin saying 15, 16, 17, 18.
6. Make Ten: 9 + 6 10 + 5 = 15
Look-for: Understands 6 gives 1 to 9 to make 10.
7. Shells Story Problem 12 + 7 = 19 Shells
Criteria: Drew 12 and 7 objects/tally marks, wrote equation correctly, and arrived at 19.
Diagnostic Strategy Rubric
Level 4: Master 7-8 Pts
Uses efficient mental strategies (Make Ten, 10+facts). Automatically bridges to teen numbers without recounting from 1.
Level 3: Proficient 5-6 Pts
Consistently locks the larger number and counts on accurately using objects or fingers. Accurate with double ten-frames.
Level 2: Developing 3-4 Pts
Still relies on "count-all" from 1 for sums over 10. Can complete ten-frames with verbal prompt from assistant.
Level 1: Emerging 0-2 Pts
Struggles with 1-to-1 correspondence beyond 8. Requires tactile counters and 1-on-1 counting assistance.
TA Summary Notes for Lead Teacher
Recommended Next Action by Tier:
Level 4: Ready for word problems and missing addends (e.g., 14 + ? = 19).Level 3: Daily 2-minute "Lock & Roll" fluency practice to build speed.Level 1-2: Continue concrete 10-frame mat work; anchor sums to 10 first.
Observation Log Checklist:
• Did student physically tap their head to count on?
• Did student recognize 10 + n = 1n structure?
• Was one-to-one touch accurate on scattered objects?
Teacher Assistant Resource • Sums to 20 Evaluation Completed Assessment Key
