16 Ways to Teach Students to Solve Math Problems Using Columns

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Are you looking for ways to teach students to solve math problems using columns? If so, keep reading.

1. Teach the learner the zero concept in place value (e.g., there are no tens in the number “207” so a zero is put in the tens column).

2. Utilize money ideas to help the student learn place value by association (e.g., $1.26 is the same as six pennies or six ones, two dimes or two tens, one dollar or one hundred).

3. Give practice with an app or a hand-held educational device that gives instant feedback to the learner.

4. Give the learner a masked window to help the learner use columns accurately.

5. Give the student learning experience s in grouping concrete objects into groups of ones, tens, hundreds, etc.

6. Utilize vertical lines on graph paper to help the learner visualize columns and put a single digit in each column.

7. Teach the learner to space a number in the ones column and transfer it to the left to the next column from ones to tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.

8. Utilize manipulative objects (e.g., base ten blocks, connecting links, etc.) to give a visual image when teaching the learner place value.

9. Give the learner many chances to indicate the value of columns in multiple-digit numbers (e.g., 56 = ( ) tens and ( ) ones; 329 = ( ) hundreds, ( ) tens, and ( ) ones; etc.).

10. Give the learner color-coded columns to help the learner use columns accurately.

11. Praise the learner for accurately using columns when solving math problems: (a) give the learner a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the learner an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).

12. Make the learner check all their math facts for accuracy. Praise the learner for each correction made in the use of columns.

13. Give the learner self-checking learning materials to reinforce the use of columns.

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:

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