1. Adding 2 and 3 Digit Numbers (With and Without Regrouping) Using The Dot and Stick Method
By Justine Buonovolonta
Resource Room Teacher
Wood Park Primary School

2. Children are able to apply and adapt acquired mathematical ideas to new situations when they develop conceptual understanding. Conceptual understanding is understanding the WHY in mathematics.
Allowing students time to progress with concrete materials will develop a strong number sense and conceptual understanding.
Concrete
Hands-on
“Doing” stage
Manipulatives
Pictorial
Visual representations
“Seeing” stage
Drawings
Abstract
Symbols
“Symbolic” stage
Numbers & symbols

3. *Tip: Consider printing this page and placing in a page protector to use with a dry erase marker.

4. *Tip: Consider printing this page multiple times to use with homework when more workspace is needed to solve problems.

5. 34 + 5
First think about the number 34… How many tens are in 34? (3 tens)
So we are going to draw 3 “sticks” to represent the 3 tens.

6. 34 + 5 Now think about how many ones are in 34? (4 ones)
So we are going to draw 4 “dots” to represent the 4 ones.

7. 34 + 5
Now add 5 dots to represent the 5 ones that are being added to 34….

8. 34 + 5
Now beginning with the tens, count by the VALUE (10) of the sticks and the VALUE (1) of the ones….
Remind learners to “touch and count”…
10, 20, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39
So 34 +5= 39

9.
First think about the number 34… How many tens are in 34? (3 tens)
How many ones? (4 ones)
So we are going to draw 3 “sticks” to represent the 3 tens and 4 dots to represent the 4 ones.

10. 34 + 25 Now we are going to add 25. How many tens are in 25? (2 tens)
How many ones? (5 ones)
So we are going to draw 2 “sticks” to represent the 2 tens and 5 dots to represent the 5 ones.

11.
Now count up all the sticks by counting the VALUE (10), and then count on by the ones…
10, 20, 30, 40, 50
51, 52, 53, 54, 55,
56, 57,
So =59

12. Adding With Regrouping
Using Dot and Stick

13. *Tip: Consider printing this page and placing in a page protector to use with dry erase marker.

14. *Tip: Consider printing this page multiple times to use with homework when more workspace is needed to solve problems.

15.
So here we have drawn our dots and sticks to represent 34 and 29.
When combining the ones, there are enough ones to make a group of 10.

16.
Now we can move the “dots” around to fill the 10 frame and “regroup” the 10 “dots” (ones) for a “stick” (tens).

17.
The group of 10 dots gets “regrouped” as a “stick” (tens).

18.
The regrouped “stick” (tens) is shown.

19.
Now count up all the sticks as the value (10) and all the dots (1).
10, 20, 30, 40, 50 , 60
61, 62, 63
So, = 63.

20. 3 Digit Adding With Regrouping
Using Dot and Stick

21.
Show 234 and 29 using “flats”, dots and sticks to represent the numbers in their place value.
100
100

22.
Combine the ones, to make a ten.
100
100

23.
Combine the ones, to make a ten. Place the new ten stick in the tens place.
Count up the value of the hundreds, tens and ones.
100, 200
210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260
261, 262, 263
100
100

24. =

25. =
Regroup the “dots” (ones) to make a “stick” (ten).

26. =

27.
Regroup the “sticks” (tens) to make a “flat” (hundred)

28. =522
Count the value of the flats, sticks and dots.

29. Dot and Stick is a math strategy which can be used for many problems and is a reliable foundational strategy to reinforce. Thank you for your efforts to support our classroom instruction.

30. Thanks for learning and lending a helping hand!