Accessible Standard Algorithms

The authors have found that having students learn accessible standard algorithms by explaining them using mathematics drawings increases students' sense of place--value numbers and enables students to articulate their understanding of what is actually happening with the numbers and why. In this article, they will discuss three standard algorithms for multidigit addition: the common one and two options that they have found to be more accessible to students. The accessible standard algorithms that they will discuss were each originally invented by students with whom they were working. They were then successfully introduced to many other students by teachers in classroom settings from all parts of the U.S., ranging from high to low poverty, and including English speakers and multilingual learners.