Counting to 100 and Writing Numbers: Kindergarten Study Guide
Counting is the first big maths skill. Say the numbers in order, touch each object once and know that the last number tells how many.
Children learn to count in stages. First they learn the number words in order (one, two, three), then they learn to match one number to one object, and finally they understand that the last number said tells how many. In Kindergarten the goal is to count to 100 by ones and by tens, to count on from any number (not only from 1), and to write the numbers 0 to 20.
Counting works best with real things: buttons, blocks, steps on the stairs. Hands-on counting builds the idea that numbers stand for quantities, not just a song.
Counting by tens
The numbers 1 to 100 follow patterns. Counting by tens is a shortcut: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100. The tens words end in -ty (twenty, thirty, forty). After 19 the pattern repeats: twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two. Most mistakes happen at the 'turn' points like 29 to 30 and 39 to 40, where children are unsure what comes next.
Counting on
Counting on means starting from a number other than 1. If you are on 7 and need the next numbers, say 8, 9, 10. This skill leads straight to addition. Try it with a staircase or a number path: stand on 12 and count on three steps to 15.
Choose any number, such as 14.
Fourteen… 15, 16, 17.
Stop at 20 or after five numbers.
Writing numbers 0 to 20
Start at the top for most numbers and use one line for 1, a curve for 2, 3 and 5 and so on. Teen numbers have two digits: 13 is a 1 (one ten) and a 3 (three ones). Children often write numbers backward (like a mirrored 3 or 7), which is normal at this age. Practice in sand, with chalk or with a finger on a table before using a pencil.
| Number | Say it | Think of it as |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | ten | one ten, zero ones |
| 13 | thirteen | ten and three |
| 17 | seventeen | ten and seven |
| 20 | twenty | two tens |
Worked examples and common mistakes
Counting objects: Line up 8 blocks. Touch each block once while saying 1, 2, 3 … 8. Then ask, 'How many blocks?' A child who understands will say 'eight' without counting again. If they recount, keep practicing. Common mistakes: skipping a number, counting an object twice, or mixing up the teens (sixteen and sixty). Moving objects to one side as you count prevents double-counting.
Check your understanding: model answers
1. 10 fingers and 10 toes make 20. 2. 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. 3. 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100.
✨ Key Takeaways
- Count objects one by one and the last number tells how many.
- Counting by tens is a quick way to reach 100.
- You can start counting from any number.
- Teen numbers are a ten and some ones.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Count your fingers, then count your toes. How many altogether?
- Start at 38 and count on to 45.
- Count by tens from 10 to 100.