Number sequence
Wednesday, May 2, 2001
Counting skills Children's counting skills pass through various stages:
Children's counting skills pass through various stages:
* Knowing some number names
* Knowing the order of the numbers
* Knowing what number comes next
* Saying the numbers in sequence
* Saying one number for each object counted
* Organising the count so objects are only counted once
* Knowing that the last number is how many there are altogether.
Ten steps to counting
Practitioners need to be aware of children's developing understanding of number in their observations. Ten steps to observe are when a child:
* Uses some number words in play
* Says strings of numbers followed by random numbers
* Recites numbers in order
* Counts objects by saying numbers and touching objects not in tandem
* Co-ordinates saying one number for one object
* Organises counting so that they only count each object once
* Understands that the last number you say is how many there are
* Checks counting by starting at a different place
* Says what the next number after six would be without counting from one
* Recognises number arrangements such as dice patterns without needing to count.
