Easy ways to teach regrouping subtraction

If you're currently scratching your head over how to teach regrouping subtraction without causing a total meltdown at the kitchen table, you aren't alone. It is arguably one of the biggest hurdles in elementary math. One day, a kid is cruising through basic subtraction, and the next, they're staring at 52 minus 18 like it's a complex piece of rocket science. The concept of "borrowing" or "regrouping" feels unnatural at first because it requires breaking a solid number apart, and for a lot of kids, that's just plain weird. ...

February 8, 2026 · 7 min · Magali Abramo