[HARteach]

How can I make subtracting across zeros exciting?? I am getting observed tomorrow and this is what we are doing. I don't want to change up what we are doing just to do a great, creative lesson but I feel like the kids won't be too into it. Any help would be great!!

[BigwigRabbit]

Start by calling them BOMZ, or Borrowing Over Middle Zeros. Other than that, maybe dress like a can-can?

[bohoteacher]

I like that! Can't wait to share with my class.

[JMonk]

This is pretty neat... let me see if I can do the math on here...

say you have:

5000-428.

What you can do is take 1 away from each number. So you would actually say 4999 - 427 = 4572 (this way the kids don't have to borrow so much)

Hope you can get a visual. Good luck on your observation.

[M@Ms]

I'm almost 50 and I've never thought about doing the math your way. That is such an easy way to do this.
Thanks for sharing.

[2kiddies]

That is awesome! This is my first year teaching math so that is great for me!!

[JMonk]

Yeah, only been teaching for 6 years... had never seen this. It really helps. The kids love it.

[4strong]

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002507.shtml

[Phyllis]

In subtracting 5000-428, say, "You can't take 8 from zero, so mark out the zero and go looking for some to borrow. Right next door, there is nothing, so mark out the digits until you come to a number that DOES HAVE SOME YOU CAN BORROW. You mark out 500; borrow one from 500 and what is left? 499 Write 499 above the original 500 and change the one's 0 to 10. Go ahead and subtract.

I wish I could draw the renamed number. The one's zero is marked out with a diagonal line; the 500 is marked out with a straight horizontal line going all the way across.