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Teaching 2-digit addition without regrouping is a big step for students – and a huge opportunity to build their confidence.
If you’re looking for a clear, hands-on way to guide your students through this skill, I have a low-prep resource that walks them through it using base ten blocks, drawings, and sticks & dots – everything you’re about to read about here.
This was my starting point for teaching 2-digit addition.
I spent many days teaching 2.NBT.5 to build that foundation for students.
That’s why I created a no-prep resource that includes everything you need to support students at different levels.
Whether they need physical modeling or are ready to jump to paper-pencil strategies, this set makes it easy to meet them where they are.
No need to rush through these lessons.
Students need to master addition without regrouping before they can understand how to regroup the numbers.
There are many strategies for adding 2-digit numbers, but I like to start with using base ten blocks to represent the numbers.
It helps students visualize the numbers.
You should use the physical base ten blocks to start and then move into drawings of base ten blocks.
Finally, you can teach students how to draw sticks and dots to represent the tens and ones.
I love using these magnetic base ten blocks when teaching this strategy.
You can model on the board or have students show the class how they solved problems with these.
I’ll walk you through my favorite strategy below – and if you want everything done for you, I’ve bundled it all into a classroom-ready pack that’s available now.
2-Digit Addition without Regrouping Example
What do you think you would do to start solving 32 + 15?
If you said, build 32 and 15 using tens and ones, you are correct! Great job!
Once you have the numbers built with base ten blocks, you will combine the tens and combine the ones.
At this point, you will count the tens and ones. Since you do not have to regroup the tens and ones, the answer is simple. There are 4 tens and 7 ones, so the answer is 47.
2-Digit Addition without Regrouping Using Drawings of Base Ten Blocks
Once the students master solving 2-digit addition problems using the physical base ten blocks, you can move to base ten blocks on paper.
This is one of the strategies I include in my 2-digit addition without regrouping resource – it gives students plenty of practice using visuals like these.
Let’s use the same problem again.
When the students are solving problems that do not involve regrouping, they can count the tens and ones and write the answer.
There is no work or thinking to show on paper.
However, this is what it looks like if you combine the tens and ones and then count.
Once the students master counting the tens and ones to get the answer, you can take it a step further.
2-Digit Addition without Regrouping Using Sticks and Dots
You can introduce sticks and dots as a simple way to draw tens and ones.
When using sticks and dots, you can just give the students the problem and they can draw sticks and dots to solve.
This saves you time and gives your students the opportunity to show their thinking.
Again, you don’t have to show any work to find the answer with sticks and dots.
The image below shows what it looks like when you combine the tens and ones to get the answer.
Need more strategies?
Practice 2-Digit Addition without Regrouping
Ready to save time and help your students feel confident with 2-digit addition?
My 2-Digit Addition without Regrouping resource includes:
✅ Visual drawing practice
✅ Sticks and dots modeling
✅ Worksheets and exit tickets for assessment
You can grab it below and use it tomorrow with zero prep.
Want to try this strategy with your students before committing to the full resource?
Download the free sample worksheets and see how it works in your classroom.
Need help or have questions?
If you need help or have questions, the easiest way to reach me is to DM me on Instagram @techieturtleteacher.
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