When adding 3 or more numbers using the written column addition method, all the numbers can be added together in a single calculation. Pupils may not realise that this is possible and they may need support to regroup and carry correctly.

When adding more than 2 single digit numbers, a useful strategy is to first look for numbers that add together to make 10 or numbers that are doubles or near doubles.

So if adding 3, 8, 1, 9 and 2, we can see that 8+2=10 and 9+1=10, making 20 altogether, then 3 more makes a total of 23.

Playing cards are great for practising this!