 I would like to show you how I introduce the subtraction sign or symbol to the students in my classroom. To begin with, I introduce the sign and what it looks like. I'm like, boys and girls, this is the subtraction symbol. This symbol means take away, make smaller. The groups will, my total will be smaller than what I start with. This means take away. And just to remind you, what is this symbol? You are so right. This is the equal sign and it means that my answer is coming up and that both sides of my equation are the same. This is what? Equal sign. What is this? Subtraction sign. Excellent job. Now I have six candy bars because I love chocolate. And I am so hungry after school when I get home that I ate four of them. I know I ate a lot. So boys and girls, my math problem is six minus four or six take away four because I ate them and they are gone. So six take away four equals, we can count backwards on this one. Boys and girls, which is the bigger number? Which has the most dots? The six. Put six in your head. Count backwards with me, six, five, four, three, two. That is right. I have two candy bars left for another day. So six take away four equals two. Nice job. Let's go talk to my dog again and see about his dog treats. He had five dog treats. He was rewarded three times for doing well and obeying me. So our math problem is five take away three equals, hmm, so let's put the bigger number in our head. What has the most dots? You are correct. Five. Let's put it in our head. Count backwards five, four, three, two. You're so smart boys and girls. Today he has two dog treats left for another day because five take away three equals two. Excellent job. Let's go out in my flower garden and see how they're doing today. There are eight beautiful roses just blooming and looking lovely in my flower garden. I want to put five of them in a vase on the table in the kitchen. So my math problem is eight take away five, which has more dots, which is the larger number, eight. Put eight in your head. Now take away five. Count back five, eight, seven, six, five, four, three. Boys and girls, I left three roses in my garden because eight take away five equals three. You did such a nice job today counting backwards. And this is one way that I should introduce the subtraction symbol to the children in my classroom.