Place Value

During the first six weeks of school, our math lessons focused primarily on number sense - counting, place value, patterns, and comparing numbers to determine which is greater and which is less.  As we begin our next math unit, the focus will remain on place value as we explore addition and subtraction.  

For grown ups, place value seems pretty straightforward.  We have our ones place, our tens place, and our hundreds place.  But for a first grader trying to grasp this complex, abstract concept, place value can be pretty confusing!  

In the term "place value," place refers to the position of a digit.  That is, whether the digit is in the ones place, the tens place, the hundreds place, etc.  Value tells us what that digit represents.  A 6 in the ones place represents 6 ones, or the number 6.  A 6 in the tens place represents 6 tens, or the number 60.  Understanding place value is critical to a conceptual understanding of our base-ten system, and helps us solve problems by understanding the way numbers relate to one another.

Encourage your child to use models to represent two-digit numbers.  Practice naming numbers (up to 120) you see in print and identifying the digit in the ones, tens, and hundreds place.  Ask your child to tell you what each digit represents.  Use drawings, tally marks, base-ten blocks (or something comparable) to practice making two-digit numbers at home.  If your child is ready, you can even try three-digit numbers!  Remember, your child should be able to count up to 120 by the end of first grade.  Being able to touch and build and move manipulatives around is an important part of first graders' development, so don't just stick to paper and pencil.