In this unit plan, we will explore effective strategies and activities to help you teach your homeschooler about counting forward and backward. Whether you're a seasoned homeschooling parent or just starting on this exciting journey, this guide will provide you with the tools and resources you need to make math engaging and enjoyable for your child.
Key Concepts
Counting skills are the building blocks of number sense. When children develop a strong foundation in counting, they not only learn to count from 1 to 10, but they also gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between numbers. Counting skills help children recognize patterns, make comparisons, and develop a sense of quantity. These skills are crucial for more advanced math concepts, such as addition, subtraction, and place value.
Rote Counting: Counting forward orally by ones is also called rote counting. It helps children develop number sequencing and memorization. Rote counting can be introduced as part of your daily routines and calendar activities.
Counting Backward: Counting backward is an essential skill that helps children develop number sense and prepares them for subtraction concepts. By counting backward, children learn to understand the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction.
Numbers Before and After: Identifying the number that comes before or after a given number without counting is another way to introduce children to addition and subtraction. They will realize that adding 1 is the same as counting to the next number and subtracting 1 has the same result as counting back one number.
Counting by Tens: Counting by tens provides learners with a structured and efficient way to count and understand numbers. It lays a strong foundation for several math concepts, such as place value, counting money, and organizing items in groups of ten.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
Here are some common mistakes to keep in mind as your learner develops their skills in counting forward and backward.
Misunderstanding Number Sequences: Use visual aids like number lines or manipulatives to demonstrate the sequential nature of numbers. Emphasize that each successive number represents one more than the previous number, while the preceding number is one less. Engage students in activities that involve counting forwards and backwards to reinforce this concept.
Confusion with Teen Numbers: Explicitly teach the language conventions of number pronunciation, particularly focusing on teen numbers. Explain that for numbers beyond 20, the tens digit is read first (e.g., twenty-one, fifty-seven), but this convention does not apply to teen numbers. Provide mnemonic devices or songs to help memorize the unique pronunciation of specific teen numbers like eleven, twelve, and thirteen, which do not follow the "one-teen, two-teen" pattern seen in other teen numbers.
Dual-Counting Technique
For learners that have difficulty with the teen numbers, encourage them to try dual-counting.
With dual-counting, the number name is spoken based on its place value (which is more intuitive) and with its proper name. For example, to count 11, 12, and 13, your learner can say, "ten-one is eleven, ten-two is twelve, ten-three is thirteen," etc.
A Gattegno number chart can be especially useful for dual-counting. Have your learner point to the place value of each digit as they say the number. For example, when reading 12 on the chart, they can point to 10, then point to 2, while saying, "ten and two is twelve."
Unit Plan for Counting Forward and Backward
Now that we have discussed key concepts for counting forward and backward, let’s explore a sample unit plan. The activities are most effective when incorporated into a daily routine throughout the school year.
Learning Goals
The activities in this unit will help your learner develop the following skills:
Count orally to 100, starting from different numbers.
Count backward orally from 20, starting from different numbers.
Identify the number after and before a given number without counting.
At the beginning of the school year, focus on counting forward orally by ones from 0 to 20. Use various tools, such as number charts, number paths, and ten-frames, to support your child's understanding of number sequencing. Throughout the school year, aim to progress your child's ability to count forward orally by ones up to 50 and finally up to 100.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Counting Songs and Rhymes: Sing counting songs and recite rhymes that involve counting, such as "Elephants on a Spider Web" or "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe." These songs and rhymes help children develop number sequencing skills in a playful way.
Number Hunts: Create a scavenger hunt where your child has to find and count objects around the house. For example, ask them to find five red objects or ten toys. This activity reinforces counting skills while making it interactive and exciting.
Calendar Time: Incorporate counting into your daily calendar activities. Ask your child to count the number of days in a month or count the number of special events or holidays in a year. This helps children understand the concept of time while reinforcing their counting skills.
Counting Books: Read counting books with your child. Choose books that involve counting objects or animals, such as "Ten Apples Up On Top!" by Dr. Seuss or "How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten?" by Jane Yolen. These books not only engage children but also help them visualize numbers and develop counting skills.
2. Counting Backward
Introduce counting backward from 5 at the beginning of the school year as part of your daily routines and calendar activities. Gradually increase to 10 (or 20) in mini-lessons throughout the year while assessing your child's progress. Once your learner is comfortable counting backward from 10, introduce counting backward from any number within 10. For example, ask them to count backward starting from 7.
Make counting backward a fun and engaging experience for your child with these activities:
Counting Down Games: Play counting down games with your child. For example, start at 10 and count backward together as you take steps or hop backward. This physical activity helps children visualize counting backward and reinforces number sequencing.
Number Puzzles: Create number puzzles where your child has to arrange numbers in reverse order. Write numbers on index cards or cut them out from magazines, then mix them up and ask your child to put them in the correct order from highest to lowest. This activity strengthens their ability to sequence numbers in reverse order.
Counting Backward Songs: Teach your child counting backward songs, such as "Ten Green Bottles" or "Five Little Ducks." Sing these songs together and encourage your child to count backward along with the lyrics. This activity combines music and counting to make learning fun.
3. Numbers Before and After
After your learner is comfortable counting backward, introduce the concept of identifying the number before (within 10) and the number after (within 100) as part of your daily routines and calendar activities. This might occur halfway through the school year. Continuously spiral back to these skills to assess your child's progress.
Make learning numbers before and after a fun experience for your child with these activities:
Number Hopscotch: Create a hopscotch grid using chalk or tape. Write numbers randomly in the squares. Ask your child to identify the number that comes before or after a given number and hop to the corresponding square. This game combines physical activity, number recognition, and understanding number relationships.
Number Line Game: Create a number line using a long piece of paper or tape. Write numbers randomly on the number line. Give your child a number and ask them to identify the number that comes before or after. They can place a counter or a small object on the correct number. This game reinforces number sequencing and helps children master the concept of numbers before and after.
Number Puzzle: Create a number puzzle by writing numbers on index cards or small pieces of paper. Mix up the cards and ask your child to arrange them in the correct order. Then, give them a number and ask them to place it in the correct position by identifying the number that comes before or after. This activity promotes critical thinking and strengthens number sense.
4. Counting by Tens
After your learner has become proficient in counting up to 100, you can introduce them to counting by tens. Introduce them to number charts and number lines as visual tools to recognize the pattern of counting by tens.
Turn counting by tens into an engaging experience with these activities:
Money Counting Game: Use play money or real coins to help learners understand the concept of counting money by tens. Encourage them to count coins in groups of ten, reinforcing their understanding of place value and the value of each coin.
Ten-Frames Activity: Utilize ten-frames as a visual aid for learners to understand the structure of numbers in groups of ten. They can use counters or stickers to fill the ten-frames, reinforcing the concept of counting by tens.
Number Sequence Challenge: Present learners with a sequence of numbers with gaps, and ask them to fill in the missing numbers by counting in tens. This activity promotes critical thinking and strengthens their understanding of number sequencing.
Engage learners in practical activities where they practice counting items by forming groups of tens. For example, they can group objects such as buttons, blocks, or toys into sets of ten, enhancing their understanding of counting by tens and the concept of place value.
Through this unit, your learner has developed the ability to count both forward and backward, identify numbers before and after given numbers, and count by tens. These skills will help them build a strong foundation in number sense and counting fluency, preparing them for mastering addition and subtraction with confidence.
With over 12 years of experience as a classroom teacher, tutor, and homeschool parent, my specialty is easing math anxiety for students of all ages. I'm committed to empowering parents to confidently support their children in math!
