How to Learn to Count by Tens

Use manipulatives such as money to learn to count by tens.

Counting by 10s is a mathematics skill generally learned in elementary school. Also called skip-counting, counting by 10s most commonly involves the sequence "10, 20, 30, 40" and so on. However, counting by 10s can also involve starting at an odd number, to create a sequence such as "13, 23, 33, 43." Skip-counting is a beneficial skill, as it allows you to count many items in a short period of time. Additionally, the skill of skip-counting helps you quickly learn the multiplication tables. There are a variety of methods that can be used to learn to count by 10s.

Things You'll Need

• Hundred chart
• Manipulatives such as pennies or base-10 blocks
• Recipe cards

Instructions

1. Look for patterns using a hundred chart. On the hundred chart, numbers are written in rows of 10. Therefore, the numbers one through 10 are written on the first row, 11 through 20 on the second, 21 through 30 on the third and so on. Horizontal, vertical and diagonal patterns emerge on a hundred chart. Choose any vertical column to find an example of counting by 10s. For example, the first vertical column will read "1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91." Two patterns are visible: The first digit increases by one and the second digit is always one.

2. Use manipulatives such as pennies or base-10 blocks. Put pennies in groups of 10 and count the piles using skip-counting. Recognize that it is faster to count 100 pennies in groups of 10's than it is to count by ones. Base-10 blocks can be used by replacing 10 ones-blocks with a 10-block, and subsequently skip-counting to find the total number of blocks.

3. Visit an interactive website such as Maths Is Fun to practice skip-counting by 10s. Maths Is Fun allows players to choose the correct number from four options, in order to complete a number line that skip-counts by 10s.

4. Create a number line to form a visual representation of counting by 10s. First, draw a horizontal line. Along the line, write the numbers from zero to 100. Write each multiple of 10 in a different color to make it stand out. As you count by 10s, touch the appropriate numbers on the number line.

5. Write a sequence of numbers on small recipe cards. For example, on the first card write "10," on the second write "20" and on the third write "30." Mix the cards up and put them in order from least to greatest. For an extra challenge, put the cards in order from greatest to least, or use non-multiples of 10 such as "24," "34" and "44."

Tips & Warnings

• Learning to count by 10s is a skill that can be practiced anywhere. Practice for five minutes while eating breakfast, driving to soccer practice or having a bath.

References

• Maths Is Fun: Skip Counting
• Teach Your Children Well: The One-Minute Teacher Does Counting by 10s to 100

Resources

• Maths Is Fun: Skip Counting by 10s to 100