Subtraction: Booklet 2 - Parent/Teacher Guide

Subtraction: Booklet 2 – Parent/Teacher Guide from Pattern Press is a math curriculum guide designed to help parents and teachers teach subtraction through discovery learning, pattern recognition, and conceptual understanding.

This 64-page Parent/Teacher Guide accompanies the 48-page Student Workbook and introduces Beginning Circle Subtraction, a unique method developed by Prof. Emeritus Michael Butler at the world renowned UCI Farm Elementary School. Rather than relying on memorized subtraction procedures, students learn to understand regrouping by breaking larger problems into smaller, manageable parts through the Circle Math process.

The Patterns in Arithmetic series teaches mathematics through an inductive, understanding-based approach where students actively explore relationships, recognize patterns, and build mathematical reasoning through guided discovery. Parents and teachers are supported with lesson instructions, sample dialogues, teaching techniques, games, and detailed guidance for leading meaningful subtraction lessons.

The Parent/Teacher Guide includes instructional support, while the Student Workbook provides worksheets and practice pages that reinforce learning through hands-on exploration and mathematical thinking.

Topics included in this guide:

• Student Evaluation
• Answer Key
• Foreword by Professor Michael Butler
• Introduction and Farm School Math Notes
• Teaching Techniques and Arithmetic Conventions
• Regrouping: Introduction and Philosophy
• Fishy Game and Story Problems
• Circle Math Subtraction with two and three circles
• Teaching instructions and sample dialogues
• Math Journal and Sequence Guides
• Lesson Planning, Materials, and Resources

Core Learning Skills:

• Teaching regrouping through visual and conceptual subtraction strategies
• Guiding students to break apart subtraction problems flexibly
• Developing mathematical reasoning through pattern recognition
• Supporting deep understanding of subtraction concepts
• Building number sense through hands-on mathematical exploration
• Connecting story problems to mathematical structure and representation
• Encouraging discovery-based learning instead of formula memorization
• Strengthening teacher confidence with guided lesson support and sample dialogues

Perfect for:

• Homeschool families teaching math
• Classroom teachers using hands-on math instruction
• Charter school curriculum programs
• Visual and hands-on learners
• Beginning regrouping and subtraction instruction