Answer:

9 + 8 = 17

TEACHER NOTES:

Throughout first grade, students should be encouraged to begin to use mathematical symbols to represent mathematical situations.

“Through classroom discussions of different representations during the pre-K–2 years, students should develop an increased ability to use the symbols as a means of recording their thinking. In the earliest years, teachers may provide scaffolding for students by modeling for them until they have the ability to record their ideas. Original representations remain important throughout the students’ mathematical study and should be encouraged. Symbolic representations and manipulation should be embedded in instructional experiences as another vehicle for understanding and making sense of mathematics."

"Equality is an important algebraic concept that students must encounter and begin to understand in the lower grades. A common explanation of the equals sign given by students is that ‘the answer is coming,’ but they need to recognize that the equals sign indicates a relationship—that quantities on each side are equivalent, for example, 10 = 4 + 6 or 4 + 6 = 5 + 5.”3

3 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2000). Principles and standards for school mathematics (p. 94). Reston, VA: Author.