The Rocket Math Integers program teaches students a systematic way to solve these difficult problems.
Here's how they practice: Begin by reading the problem.
Step 1: Determine the starting number, mark it.
Step 2: Identify which of the four processes is happening in this problem:
Adding a positive, subtracting a positive, subtracting a negative or adding a negative.
Step 3: The student should say the right rule that applies to the process.
Rule 1: Go up when you add a positive number OR subtract a negative number.
Rule 2: Go down when you subtract a positive OR add a negative number.
Step 4: Determine whether to go up or down on the number line.
Step 5: Determine how far and make the bumps from the starting number going in the right direction the right number of bumps.
Finally, the student should look at where he/she ended up on the number line and fill in the answer to the problem.