Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Add and subtract within 20
2–3 weeks (daily 15-min drill)
Reach instant recall of all addition facts to 20 and their corresponding subtraction facts. The goal is fluency — answers in under 3 seconds without counting on fingers. A parent or teacher gives timed flashcard drills (2 minutes, 40 mixed facts) and checks that at least 35 of 40 are answered correctly.
Proof required
Submit a photo of a completed timed fact drill (addition and subtraction to 20, 40 questions, 2-minute limit) with a parent or teacher note confirming the score and timing.
What gets checked
- 35 of 40 facts answered correctly within 2 minutes
- No finger-counting observed by verifier during the drill
- Both addition and subtraction facts to 20 included — not just addition
Common mistakes
- Practising only the easy facts (1+1, 2+2) while avoiding the tricky ones (8+7, 15-9) — a parent can identify the slow facts from drill errors and focus practice there
- Rushing through exercises incorrectly to build speed before accuracy is solid — accuracy first, then speed
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Run the drill yourself — write or print 40 random addition/subtraction facts to 20, set a 2-minute timer, and check answers
- Watch for finger-counting — if observed, note which facts trigger it so the student can focus practice there
- Score 35+ correct in 2 minutes confirms fluency; below that means more daily drill is needed before advancing
You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.
Solve word problems with regrouping
1–2 weeks (20 min/day)
Apply addition and subtraction to word problems involving numbers up to 100. This includes regrouping (carrying and borrowing) in written column form. A parent or teacher gives 10 word problems from a text or worksheet and checks both the setup (equation written) and the answer. The goal is translating a real-world situation into a correct equation and solving it.
Proof required
Submit a photo of 10 completed word problems (with numbers up to 100, at least 5 requiring regrouping) showing the written equation and answer for each, with a parent or teacher note confirming the answers are correct.
What gets checked
- Equation written for each problem — not just an answer
- 8 of 10 problems answered correctly
- At least 5 problems involve regrouping (carrying or borrowing)
Common mistakes
- Skipping the written equation and solving mentally — the equation is the proof of understanding; without it, only the answer is visible
- Avoiding regrouping problems — picking only the 'easy' ones confirms fluency on the easy cases but not readiness for Level 3
Powstik Guide
Ten solved word problems, five with regrouping.
Steps
- Read each problem aloud.
- Write the number sentence.
- Solve in columns, showing carries.
- Check by doing the reverse sum.
Template
Problem: Number sentence: Column working: Check:
What gets sent back
- Answers only, no working.
- Fewer than five regrouping problems.
- Numbers over 100.
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
Masteryfor the dedicated
What a verifier looks for
- Check that equations are written — a correct answer without a written equation is a partial pass at best
- Count the regrouping problems specifically — at least 5 of 10 must require carrying or borrowing
- 8 of 10 correct is the bar; below that, identify which problem types are failing (carrying? borrowing? reading the problem?) and target practice there
You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.
Pass 1st or 2nd Grade Math assessment at 80%
2–3 days (consolidation and review)
Reach 80% mastery on the Khan Academy 1st Grade or 2nd Grade Math course (whichever applies to the student's current level). A teacher-graded test covering addition/subtraction to 100 with regrouping at 80% or above is also accepted. This is the level gate for advancing to Level 3 (Multiplication and Division).
Proof required
Submit a screenshot of your Khan Academy 1st or 2nd Grade Math course showing 80% or above in the course mastery meter (or a teacher-graded test covering addition and subtraction to 100 with regrouping scoring 80%+). Your name must be visible.
What gets checked
- 80%+ shown in the course summary — not just one unit
- If teacher-graded: test covers both addition and subtraction, including regrouping, with numbers up to 100
- Score on the screenshot or test is clearly legible and includes the student's name
Common mistakes
- Submitting a single exercise score instead of the course summary — the course mastery percentage across all units is what the gate checks
- Skipping the word problem units and only mastering computation — word problems are part of the course and must be covered
Resources
Foundationstart here
What a verifier looks for
- Open the Khan Academy course with the student and confirm 80%+ shown in the overall course mastery display
- If teacher-graded: confirm the test includes regrouping problems (not just basic facts to 20)
- Check that the student's name is visible in the screenshot or written on the test paper
You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.
Part of