Which objective best addresses the TEKS standard that a kindergarten student should solve word problems using objects and drawings for sums up to 10 and differences within 10?

• A. The student will memorize number facts up to 10 with 90% accuracy.
• B. The student will demonstrate mathematical strategies for solving addition and subtraction problems using linking cubes with 80% accuracy.
• C. The student will recite counting sequence to 20.
• D. The student will solve word problems using only mental math to reach sums up to 10.

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is using concrete representations to solve word problems for sums up to 10 and differences within 10. The best objective requires students to show strategies for solving these problems by manipulating objects, not just recalling facts or counting, which aligns directly with the TEKS emphasis on modeling with drawings or physical tools.

Using linking cubes as a concrete tool lets a kindergartener build and visualize the addition or subtraction in the story, making the relationship between the quantities clear. The 80% accuracy target shows students are moving beyond single-step, memorized facts and can apply the strategies reliably across problems.

The other options miss this hands-on, problem-solving focus: memorizing facts up to 10 is about recall with no word problems or modeling; reciting a counting sequence to 20 is foundational counting without solving related problems; and solving word problems with only mental math ignores the required use of objects or drawings to represent the situation.