By Jules Rhee, MEd | Latest update 5/3/2026
Over the years, I noticed something interesting. Students had feelings about 2-digit multiplication before we even started.
Some couldn’t wait to tackle it. They’d heard it was hard, and that made it a challenge worth conquering.
Others came in nervous, already worried that they’d struggle.
I always felt a mix of excitement and dread. I loved teaching it, but I knew a lot of reteaching was coming.
I’ve tried every method: box, partial products, lattice, and standard algorithm. Some students learned quickly, but others struggled to understand any of them.
And by 5th grade, fluency with the standard algorithm isn’t optional – it’s required.
The good news for parents? The standard algorithm, also called long multiplication, is also the method most of them learned as kids, which means they can help with homework more easily.
The standard algorithm can be a lot for kids. Many of my students had difficulty remembering the steps and performing them in the correct order. I searched everywhere for an organizer or something that actually worked for my struggling learners and came up empty. So I built my own.
I realized my most challenged students were visual, hands-on learners, and they needed visual reminders to help them solve the problems. That’s how these shape visual organizers were created.
2-Digit Multiplication Visual Organizer
This organizer is a method that teachers can use to teach the traditional algorithm. It’s student-friendly and uses shapes and colors to assist students in performing the steps in the right order.
While teaching, I would constantly say, “Circles go with circles,“ and “Squares go with squares.”
By repeating those phrases like a broken record, I wanted them to stick.
When students hear “circles go with circles,” I want that to trigger an automatic response. They know exactly where to look and where to write their answer. No guessing, no hand-raising to ask what comes next. For example, they complete every step in the red circles before touching the blue squares, and that phrase is what keeps them on track.
That’s also the magic of the color-coded shapes. They’re doing the hard work for you. The colors and shapes can be added or removed based on each student’s needs, making it easy to differentiate without creating a whole new set of materials.
Beginners start with the full color-coded version using shapes and colors together. As students grow more confident, the colors can be faded out. And if a student needs them back temporarily, they can add their own with highlighters. It’s a simple way to personalize the support without any extra prep on your part.
Watch It in Action: Long Multiplication with Shape Visual Organizers
This short 5-minute video walks you through tips for teaching 2-digit long multiplication using the shape visual organizer, so you can see exactly how it works before introducing it to your students.
Visual Strategy Anchor Chart
(Note: This anchor chart is from 2014, when the organizer used triangles instead of pentagons. The shape was updated to give students more writing space, so your set will have pentagons.)
Double-Digit Multiplication Organizers and Worksheets
Another problem I had was finding worksheets without regrouping. I wanted my students to focus on the standard algorithm for multiplication without the added step of regrouping.
Once students are comfortable multiplying without regrouping, they can learn that additional step. Regrouping should go smoothly after spending time focusing on problems without regrouping and learning the process of 2-digit multiplication.
These sets include plenty of practice pages, so use as many or as few as your students need. In my classroom, that usually meant a lot.
My students needed extra practice, repetition, and review before the steps really stuck, so I made sure there were plenty of regrouping worksheets included. Differentiation is built right in, so you’re not scrambling to create something different for every learner.
Another simple accommodation is to fold the worksheet to hide some of the problems. This works really well for students who feel overwhelmed or defeated by seeing a full page of problems.
Additionally, the set comes with three different-sized organizers. The first and largest organizer takes up a full page (as shown above). Other pages feature four or nine blank organizers per page.
Those pages are perfect for you (or your students) to make up problems. My students loved making worksheets for each other and being the “teacher.”
Erasable plastic pocket sleeves work perfectly for that kind of practice. You just slide the page inside the pocket and you get reusable practice pages.
The variety of sizes, colors, and worksheets makes differentiating simple, so there’s no scrambling or creating extra materials from scratch. These are my personal favorites in my entire store, and after years of classroom testing, I can confidently say they work!
When students are ready for independent practice, two graph paper grid worksheets are included to help them make that transition smoothly. The grids provide all the structure they need, without the shapes.
And if you also teach long division, the bundle is the way to go. Same visual approach, half the prep. Plus, your students will already know exactly how the system works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do parents prefer the standard algorithm?
Most parents learned the standard algorithm (also called long multiplication) themselves, so it’s the method they can actually help with at home. When students bring home partial products or lattice multiplication, parents often feel lost, and that stress trickles down to kids. Focusing on the standard algorithm keeps everyone on the same page, which means homework time is less frustrating for the whole family.
What if my student keeps forgetting which shape to write in?
That’s the most common sticking point, and it’s exactly why I recommend repeating “circles go with circles, squares go with squares” like a broken record. If a student is still getting confused, try having them use a highlighter to trace the shape before writing in it. That extra physical step slows them down just enough to look before they write. With repetition, the shape pattern becomes automatic and they stop needing the reminder altogether.
Can I use these organizers with my special education or intervention students?
Absolutely! In fact, these organizers were originally designed with struggling learners in mind. The color-coded shapes give students with processing or attention challenges a concrete visual to anchor each step, so they’re not relying on memory alone. The built-in scaffolding also makes it easy to document accommodations for IEP goals. I’ve used them successfully with special education, RTI groups, and intervention students at every level.
Ready to learn more?
If you want to read more about this multiplication strategy – and long division, too – here are some articles to check out:
How to Teach Multi-Digit Multiplication and Long Division – This blog article will introduce you to the differentiated multiplication and long division resources I have available. You’ll learn exactly how I use them in my own classroom.
3 Ideas for Teaching Multi-Digit Multiplication – Here are 3 FAST ideas for teaching multi-digit multiplication. These interventions are easy and quick for busy teachers.
2-Digit Multiplication Worksheets: Differentiated – Here’s a visual method for teaching 2-digit multiplication using differentiated, visual cues to guide students’ learning for success.
Differentiated Long Division Worksheets for FREE – Grab these differentiated long division worksheets for FREE and dramatically boost student success and your teaching success!
About the Author
Written by Jules Rhee, MEd., 30-year teaching veteran. Published 5/2/2015; Updated 5/3/2026
Jules is the creator of Caffeine Queen Teacher (CQT) – Visual Math Organizers + Graph Paper Grid Support. She’s a veteran teacher with over 30 years of classroom experience (SPED, upper elementary, and middle school) and a Master’s in Education (MEd). Jules shares practical, classroom-tested ideas and creates step-by-step resources that help students stay organized, confident, and successful – especially with multiplication and long division.
Read more about Jules here: About Page | Browse resources here: TpT Store