How to Use AIM: Addition and Subtraction

Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM): Addition and Subtraction is a solution for students eight years and older who struggle with recall of single-digit addition and subtraction facts. This guide will help you understand how to use AIM to its fullest potential.

As you begin your routine, keep in mind that each sitting should last no more than 15 minutes, with at least a two-hour break in between.

The instructor should first watch the video on their own and read the lesson instructions in the Resource Guide. Then, they should have all the materials on hand before beginning the lesson.

The first few lessons contain many facts, and the Session A activity will likely require multiple (or many multiple) sittings together. The student must be assessed for mastery on three separate occasions for each fact, so each Session will take time to complete. Don’t feel discouraged if the activities in Sessions A, B, C, and D take a couple of days each. 

Here is an overview of what the activities entail for each lesson:

• Session A – Practice all the facts (for that lesson) using the Build Write Say method.
• Session B – Demonstrate Understanding. Select no more than three Fact Check Cards from the lesson. Can your student teach back the strategy with the manipulatives?
  • If yes, complete the word problems.  
  • If no, use the Build, Write, Say method again with cards, then move on to the word problems.
• Session C – Fading. Use the colored pencils to draw the math facts for the current lesson. Make two piles, one for Facts Known and one for Facts Not Yet Known. See below for more information about what to do with Facts Not Yet Known.
• Session D – Can the child say the whole math fact within three seconds?  Make two piles, one for Facts Known and Facts Not Yet Known. Color a star on each card of Facts Known.
• Do a Fast Fact Check-In. Use one of the previous activities to review Known Facts for five minutes.
• After a break, Repeat Session D at each sitting until the child can say the whole math fact within three seconds for all the facts for this lesson. 
• Once you have three stars on a card, circle that fact on the Facts Mastery Chart.

If you cannot cover all the facts for a lesson in a sitting, pick up where you left off the next time you meet. Do not move to the next Session until all the facts for the prior Session are complete.

When you encounter Facts Not Yet Known, allow the child to choose from the following activities to achieve mastery:

• Build, Write, Say
• Draw the fact
• Choose an activity from the Review Activities available in the Digital Toolbox under each lesson’s Activities tab. 

Once every fact for this lesson is mastered three times, you can move on to the next lesson.