I provide enrichment in Math and English to students from preK through 6th grade. Recently, I was helping a kindergartener learn how to do two digit addition. The problem causing a problem was 16 + 7.

Him: Sixteen plus seven is twenty one.

Me: No. Let’s try again.

Him: Seventeen?

Me: I don’t think so.

Him: Twenty?

Me: No. Let’s try it this way. Sixteen is the same as a ten and a six, right?

Him: Yes. I know.

Me: Well, let’s take the ten part away for a minute. What’s six plus seven?

Him: (long pause, lays his head on the desk, sighing) I don’t need to know.