Student A
Questions
Do you like maths?
Can you tell me what you know about addition?
When working out the answer to an addition sum, what
number would I start with?
2 3
Why would you start with ‘said number’? (3)
Read addition story - Children’s language stage
I am going to tell you a story about Farmer Jo and his
animals, I would like you to use this mat (below) to show
me how you would find the answer.
Farmer Jo had 5 animals in one pen (point to pen) and 2
animals in another (point to pen). He moved all the animals
to the barn to feed them, how many animals altogether
(point to barn)?
How did you work that out?
Materials language Stage – without addition mat: Note pegs
were used as I had no counters.
I have 4 counters and my friend has 3 more counters. How
many counters altogether?
How did you work this out?
Responses
Yes, I’m very good at maths. My older brother knows
how to do it and he can teach me.
Its when we find out altogether or how much two things
equals
Three
Cause it’s the bigger number and then you have smaller
to add to it
Student places 5 animals in first pen, and 2 animals in
another.
She then moves all the animals to the barn and says:
Seven animals altogether.
Five plus two means seven altogether. Physically adds
animals all together
Points at animals.
Says six, seven. Seven animals altogether.
Five plus two is seven. I counted on two in my head.
Student checks for accuracy. Regroups 5 animals and
then counts ‘six, seven’
Students places four counters down and then adds three
more.
Student says ‘mine’ and then ‘Lucy’s’
There are seven altogether.
Four and one more is five. And then I know 5 and two is
seven. Same as the last one.
Mathematics Language stage: Modelled using pegs Without hesitation, student says: 8

Mrs Smith gives me 4 pegs and asks me to add four more

pegs. What is the total number of pegs I have?

Can you describe to me how you worked this out? I counted by 2’s. Four add two more is six, six add two
more is eight.
Symbolic Language Stage:
Can you write this down and show me how you work it out.
Five add four equals.

5+4=

How did you work this out? Four plus four is eight plus one more is nine.