Reading Tutor Has Math Instruction Query

Tampa FL

Description

I sometimes teach reading AND math to kindergarten, and first grade students. Regarding addition, I am curious why MANY students do not understand the math concept I am employing. ie. Students are shown 5 + 3, horizontally and vertically. These are 2nd term K students and 1st graders. (Manipulatives, number lines and other methods for addition are FIRST introduced.) Students draw 5 dots and 3 dots and add them and get 8. Next I employ another method, though it rarely works. I say to the student, "Let's have five in our head, now draw 3 dots." I say, "So say five," and I point to the 3 dots, and say, "Now count, add 5 and the three dots." They don't say "five, six, seven, eight." Instead they say "five...one two three.". I am completely baffled as to why all my students do this. I EVEN MODEL the method. I also say things like, We have five, now continue to count after five. I tell them we are ADDING five and the three dots, etc. They can add in other ways and know what adding is. They can count to 100! What is the "cognitive," fail here? Thanks for your answer.