Please help with DS's maths homework. I must be missing something.

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So ds has been given a table with loads of data. All the numbers are over 10,000. There are 8 questions on the data. Each question requires him to add a column of about 10 numbers e.g. 12,242 + 19,111+ 20,342 + 42,342 etc ( you get the gist).

Now he decided to add the first two together and go on from there e.g. 12,242 + 19,111 = 31,353 + 20, 342 = etc..... Then with prompting from me he added the first 5 together and then the next 5 and then added the two answers. Either way it amounts to alot of addition (and a lot of time) and I can't help thinking there must be a method he may have missed when off sick or something. This is year 6 maths. I have spent time googling but maths is not my strong point and frankly I am baffled. Help appreciated.

I don't have experience of Y6 maths (ds1 in Y3) but I am an ex-scientist and it just sounds to me like you could do it on a calculator! Maybe a few times to check the answers, just in case he puts in the wrong digit once or twice. I wouldn't add them in batches as this might lead to more errors.

Do you think they might have reached the old fashioned column method where you carry numbers? That way he could do the lot as one big sum.

No he was told on no account to use a calculator. I am a bit shocked as that was the first thing I reached for.

is he supposed to be estimating?

Well he can add two large number together using the carrying method and dad showed him the way he could use that to add 10 numbers but it seems a bit much to me. I mean I get confused when adding loads of numbers.

Is it a 'chunking' question? I thought that chunking was a multiplication strategy but as it's summat to do with adding together similar units then adding them back together, this might be easier?

So all the thousands, hundreds, tens and units, then add them together? Etc....

One of the questions could be answered by rounding but most required adding loads.

Missed out an 'add' there: add all the thousands, then the hundreds, then the tens...

The important bit is that your kid need to know the place values and that these are of the same 'scale' so they can be added easily.

Or summat

You know chunking popped into my head but I can't remember how to do it. Will google. I don't get to see his teacher as he has a different teacher for maths otherwise I would ask her. Thh brains of MN may get me my answer. Thanks all

Like shockers said I think it would be one big sum. quick google on nat currm fo year 6 shows that they are expected to learn to do carrying involving four-figure numbers.
The examples there seem fairly simple because the numbers are so low, there's no carrying until the fourth place.

(could always check it on excel)

I can't believe that year 6 maths could challenge me so much.....

12,242
19,111 +
20,342
42,342
etc

Id do it like this and carry the numbers - still seems hard tho

Kelix, that's how I'd do it -in-- the absence of a calculator.

Seems to be a lesson in values.

Thanks guys.