Are you looking for strategies to help students who have trouble solving math problems using columns while working math problems? If so, keep reading.

1. Select a peer to model the use of columns when working math problems for the learner.

2. Create a marked column format (e.g., /thousands/hundreds/tens/ones/) that can be copied from an original for the learner to use in solving all designated math problems.

3. Get the learner to exchange 10 pennies for a dime and correlate that learning experience with grouping ten ones and placing a 1 in the tens column and a 0 in the ones column.

4. Get the learner to practice labeling columns to represent ones, tens, hundreds, etc.

5. Get the learner to practice regrouping a number in various positions and determining its value (e.g., 372,723,237).

6. Get the learner to practice using columns when solving math problems by using a computer program that automatically selects the correct column to input.

7. Get the learner to talk through math problems as they are solving them to find errors they are making.

8. Get the learner to use a calculator to solve math problems involving the use of columns.

9. Make sure the learner has the prerequisite skills to learn place value (e.g., counting orally, comprehension sets, writing numbers to 100, etc.).

10. Teach the learner the ideas and terminology appropriate to learn place value (e.g., set, column, middle, left, digit, etc.).

11. Teach the learner why they are learning a math concept. Give the learner concrete examples and chances for them to apply the theory in real-life situations.

12. Teach the learner that math problems of addition, subtraction, and multiplication move from right to left beginning with the ones column.

13. Teach the learner that the shared value of ten “ones” is equal to one “ten” and that ten “tens” is equal to one hundred.

14. Consider using Alexa for the Math Classroom.

15. Try gamifying your math lessons.

16. Consider using one of the apps and tools from our many math app lists:

9 Must-Have Apps and Tools for Kids Who Hate Math

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YouTube Channels for the Math Classroom