Column addition, interactive

In column addition the pupil writes the answer by hand, one digit at a time, exactly as in an exercise book. That is not incidental but a pedagogical choice: writing by hand supports the understanding of place value and carrying, because the pupil has to put each digit in the right column themselves.

You can create exercises both in pen mode, where the pupil writes the numbers by hand, and in drag mode, where the digits are moved into place. The answer is marked automatically, so the pupil gets instant feedback and you save the marking time.

How to create this exercise

1. Choose the operation: addition or subtraction.
2. Choose the mode. In pen mode the pupil writes the digits by hand; in drag mode they move ready-made digits into place.
3. Set the size of the numbers and the number range. The editor warns you if the range always carries, or never does.
4. Decide whether carrying is practised. If you leave it off, only calculations that need no carrying are generated.

Tip: Start with two-digit numbers and no carrying. Bring carrying in only once placing digits in the right column is fluent — otherwise the pupil is learning two new things at once.

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