How to Subtract by Counting Backwards

MatholiaChannel

This educational video introduces the "counting back" strategy for subtraction using three clear, visualized examples. Aimed at early elementary students, the video demonstrates how to solve subtraction problems by first physically removing objects (the "take away" model) and then verbally counting backwards from the starting number to find the difference. The pacing is slow and deliberate, allowing young learners to follow the mental process step-by-step. The content covers three specific problems: 15 - 4, 14 - 3, and 12 - 5. Each example utilizes colorful, familiar objects—gummy bears, pencils, and counting cubes—to make the abstract concept of numbers concrete. The video employs a dual-coding approach: it first shows items being crossed out to represent subtraction, then overlays a "jumping" arrow animation that visually tracks the numbers decreasing as the narrator counts backward, reinforcing the connection between physical quantity and the number sequence. For educators, this video serves as an excellent bridge between concrete manipulatives and mental math strategies. It is particularly useful for students who are ready to move beyond simply recounting the remaining items one-by-one and are learning to trust the counting-back sequence. The clear visual layout makes it ideal for whole-class demonstration or independent review stations in 1st and 2nd-grade math centers.