Addition boils down piles of 10's

There are just a five single digit combinations that add up to 10.  

1 + 9 = 10

2 + 8 = 10

3 + 7 = 10

4 + 6 = 10

5 + 5 = 10

These combinations are important for children to know because you can quickly add up huge stacks of numbers very quickly by breaking it down into combinations of 10.

Let's add this stack of numbers;

   145786 

   234568 

   456893  

   245985

   345677

+ 985414

    867122  

It looks frightening as a full stack of numbers but Lets look at it line by line.  Starting from the 1’s place.  The first row is:

   6

   8

   3

   5

   7

+ 4

   2   

In this row how many combinations of 10 can you find?

   6

   8

   3

   5

   7

+ 4

    2    

There are three combinations of 10 in this stack with one lone 5 left over.

Cross out the combinations of 10, keeping track of each 10. 

    6  

   8  

     3   

                        5                 lll

   7  

+ 4  

      2    

   5

Each combination of 10 reveals a number that belongs in the 10’s spot.  It’s usually called carrying over but I think it can be better understood as 10’s that belong in the 10’s spot.  

By eliminating the 10’s there is only 5 that remain in the 1’s spot.

Next let’s look at the 10’s spot.

 3   

   86

   68

   93

   85

   77

+ 14

    22   

      5

Notice I have added the three on top.  This is the three 10’s that were in the 1’s spot but belong in the 10’s spot.  

   3

   8

   6   

   9

   8

   7

+ 1

    2   

In this row there is a left-over combination that when added together equals more than 10 add this number together.

8 + 6 = 14

Now take the 10 and add it to the others and leave the 4 in it’s place. 

   3

   8

   6

   9      

   8 

   7 

+ 1

   2  

   4

In the next row there are only two combinations of 10.  But lets look at the 7, 8 and 5.  In order to make combinations of 10, the 7 wants a 3 and the 8 wants a 2.  Since 2 + 3 = 5 we can easily find two more 10 combinations in this row.

  

   4 

   7     

   5

   8

   9

   6

+ 4

    1  

   4

The next row there are 3 sets of 10’s with 7 and 4 left over 7 + 4 = 11 add a 10 to the list leaving one in the row.

4 

   4 

   5

   4  

   6  

   5    

      5

+ 5

   7 

   1

Check out the next row:

   4

   4

   3

   5

   4

   4

+ 8

   6   

This row is a bit more complicated but still simple once you get the hang of thinking in 10’s.  First pick out the simple ten combination.  there are many combinations that add up to 8.  The 8 wants a 2 and there are two 2’s in a four 2 + 2 = 4.  Look at how many numbers can be eliminated still thinking in 10’s. 5 + 3 = 8 and 4 + 4 = 8 then adding 2’s in 4 makes more two tens.   

   4 

   4 

   3   

   5  

   4

   4 

+ 8

   6   

It takes time to get the hang of it but when you do it saves a whole lot of time and energy!  

Happy Adding!

     

3 4 4 4 3

   1 4 5 7 8 6 

   2 3 4 5 6 8 

   4 5 6 8 9 3  

   2 4 5 9 8 5

   3 4 5 6 7 7

+ 9 8 5 4 1 4

   8 6 7 1 2 2  

 3 2 8 1 4 4 5

Lice ugh! It happens.

I used to think that getting lice was shameful.  Like I didn't do something right.  We didn't bathe enough or I wasn't vigilant enough or whatever.  The truth is, lice happens and when you homeschool, it happens as one big happy family ugh!  

My first experience with lice was such a shock.  I gave birth to my second child at home and in the days leading up to the big day, I had many people in and out of my home.  I had friends and their children, midwives, their apprentices and their husbands all in and out my home.  I chose to have a coach for my son who was 21/2 when my daughter was born.  It was a very good idea! I wanted him to be cared for emotionally and physically while I was out of the loop.  

All was going well until it was discovered the day after my daughter was born that my son was infested with lice.  None of us had noticed!  I felt embarrassed and like I was a neglectful mother.  My midwives were full of grace, comfort and stories of their first encounter with head lice.  I am very grateful to this day to have had gracious servant midwives who went way beyond their duty and washed everything that my son's head had touched and then proceeded to wash him up as well.  

These were herbalist midwives who didn't use toxic chemicals for much of anything.  And I learned from them how effective other methods can be.  I'm not sure of the mix they used but I know it included tea tree oil and olive oil which was slathered on my son's head.  We kept it their for a short while and then washed it out.  I guess there is now a lot of discussion on whether tea tree oils works for head lice.  I wasn't in a position to ask a lot of questions at the time.  I was simply grateful.  

Mostly I was grateful for the grace and relief to know that stuff happened to everyone.  Its a well kept secret but we all go through it.  We are just too embarrassed to tell anyone.