When doing double digit math problems, students often get into trouble because they don’t keep their columns lined up straight, thus losing track of which numbers go where. Their sloppiness that starts out as a minor problem with two column addition can become a real monster by the time they get to five place long division. Graph paper works great for keeping things in nice vertical columns, but something much easier to find is regular notebook paper, turned sideways. For some reason, it’s easier to draw straight horizontal lines than vertical ones