Ray's New Primary Arithmetic by Joseph Ray Ray's New Primary Arithmetic by Joseph Ray    

Lesson 31: Adding Columns of Numbers

Directions

Teach children to add columns of numbers.

When mentally adding columns consisting of numbers such as '6, 8, 3, 9', do not allow children to say '6 and 8 are 14, 14 and 3 are 17, 17 and 9 are 26, etc..' Instead train children to only speak the results '14, 17, 26.'

Have children practice until they perfectly master the task.

Steps

STEP 1

• Direct children to mentally add the columns below, speaking aloud the results only of each operation.
• Have children add columns from bottom to top for additional practice.
• Exercise #1: Add the columns aloud from top to bottom and bottom to top. For example, for the first problem top to bottom, students say '2, 3.'

STEP 2

• Exercise #2: Add the columns aloud from top to bottom and bottom to top. For example, for the first problem top to bottom, students say '9, 10.'

STEP 3

• Exercise #3: Add the columns aloud from top to bottom and bottom to top. For example, for the first problem top to bottom, students say '4, 6.'