From: Gail (for Teacher2Teacher Service)
Date: Jul 16, 1998 at 00:21:27
Subject: Re: Addition error pattern

Have you tried letting the student model the problem using place value
materials?  The sums for the place values can be recorded in a chart that 
has
the places named, like this:

Hundreds     Tens        Ones
  5           6           9
  3           5           0
+ 3           2           3
 ___        ___          ____
  16         13           12 (all of which need to be regrouped...)

If the problem is modeled, the student can see that there is a place for
each digit in the sum.  Of course, just doing one problem won't fix the
misconception.   If you let the student make the "discovery" about what
happens by providing guided practice that involves discussing what the
student notices, s/he will draw the appropriate conclusions eventually.

You can also reverse this activity, by having the student compute the sum,
and then checking it with place value blocks to see if it is a sensible
answer...

 -Gail, for the Teacher2Teacher service

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