Max Rescues the Kitchen: Chef's Math Dash!

About this Grade 1 Mixed Add Subtract Drill

At age 6 and 7, children are developing flexible thinking about numbers—the ability to see that 5 can be broken into 3 and 2, or that 8 minus 3 is the same as 8 minus 2 minus 1. Mixed addition and subtraction problems strengthen this fluidity by asking students to switch between operations within a single problem, like "5 + 2 - 1." This skill is crucial because real life rarely presents math in neat categories. When a child counts their allowance (add), spends some (subtract), then finds money in their pocket (add again), they're doing exactly this. Practicing mixed problems also builds working memory and focus—students must hold the first answer in their mind while performing the second operation. Finally, mastery here prevents later confusion when students encounter more complex equations. These drills transform children from memorizers into flexible problem-solvers who understand that numbers work together in multiple ways.

What your student will practice

• Solve addition problems followed by subtraction within 10
• Solve subtraction problems followed by addition within 10
• Apply left-to-right order correctly with two operations
• Explain which operation to perform first using number language

Common mistakes to watch for

The most common error is reversing the second operation—a child sees "6 + 2 - 1" and subtracts first instead of adding, calculating 6 - 1 + 2 instead. Another frequent pattern is losing track of the running total; students solve the first operation correctly but forget the answer when applying the second, essentially starting over. Some children also add or subtract the wrong amount on the second step, confusing which number is the operation's partner. Watch for students who finish quickly but have inconsistent answers, or who count on their fingers twice but arrive at different totals—these signal they're not holding the first answer securely.