Learning to Count by 10s

Skip counting by 10s is so much more than just being able to recite “10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60...”
Without an understanding of what the counting sequence represents, reciting “10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60....” is as useless to your child as being able to recite “2, 7, 15, 23, 38.”

When children are learning to count by 10, they need make groups of 10 objects. Seeing these repeated groups of 10 provides a concrete way of seeing that the total is the same whether you count by 1s or 10s.

AFTER your child understands that counting by 10s means you’re counting multiple groups of 10 in a faster way, THEN practicing the counting sequence of “10, 20, 30, 40...” is a helpful way to build fluency.

Want a helpful tool for practicing making groups of 10? We love to use a ten frame to organize as we count and make groups of ten. (See picture of shells).

Another useful tool for organizing and visualizing groups of ten as you count by 10s is a hundred chart like this one.

Whatever tool you choose to use, the most important thing is that your child is able to see and touch the repeating groups of ten. They won’t be able to rattle of 10, 20, 30, 40… from memory right away and that’s ok. They’re building an understanding of the concept first and that’s the most important part.