Blocks before borrowing
Before kids write a single regrouping problem, have them solve it with printable base ten blocks. For 52 minus 17, they must break a rod into ten ones to take away 7. When they see the trade, the written steps finally make sense.
Why it works: the U.S. Department of Education's guide for teaching elementary math recommends moving from hands-on objects to drawings to numbers.
Try it withPrintable Base 10 BlocksActivitiesOpen it →























