Once your student understands counting with manipulatives and identifies where whole numbers fall on a number line, you can add using both of this visuals. Start with adding 1+1, put out two beans and push the one and one together. The student should come up with 2. Have the child count the one and one and then count it again as 2. Show the numbers with dots on a paper. One dot plus one dot equals two dots. Now add 2+1 and move through the same process.
1+1, 2+1. 3+1, 4+1, 5+1, 6+1…
Then add 1+2 and look at 2+1 again to show student that 1+2 and 2+1 gives you the same number of beans or dots. This is COMMUTATIVE PROPERTY. Shows that you can add in either direction and get the same thing.
Move to the number line now. Put your finger or a pencil on the number 1. Adding one means moving right by one number. This will also show that 1+1=2. Show it with beans, dots and number line for several examples.
Go back and ask if 4+5 = 5+4 to revisit commutative property.
Continue to practice single digit addition until student feels confident.
