There are many foundational 1st grade math skills that are vital for developing number sense. A few of these skills are comparing & ordering numbers, subitizing, counting on & back and using ten frames. The goal is to have students confident and automatic at comparing, counting and ordering numbers within 100, and this post will show you how to do just that in the beginning of 1st grade.

Why teaching ordering numbers in the beginning of 1st grade?

You may be thinking, “Why would I teach comparing and ordering numbers in the beginning of 1st grade?”

The answer is simple: building up place value and number recognition skills will set in place a strong foundation of mathematical fluency and automaticity. These early taught ordering number skills will help with math facts, place value, number recognition, counting, telling time, etc. Most districts will have math standards put in place resembling the common core standards:

1.NBT.2- Understand that the two digits of a two-digit number represent amounts of tens and ones.

1.NBT.3- Compare two digit numbers based on meanings of the tens and ones digits, recording the results of comparisons with the symbols >, =, and <.

Let's take a deeper dive into how to have your students meeting these standards and ordering & comparing numbers like pros, all while still having fun!

Ordering Numbers Teaching Strategies

For this post, I wanted a few different perspectives so I interviewed seasoned 1st grade teachers. I asked them, “What are your top teaching tips & strategies to teach comparing ordering numbers, place value and subitizing in the beginning of 1st grade?” Overwhelmingly, they all answered a variation of the same thing: daily practice, ten frames and number lines/charts.

Jump to suggestions for each below!

Daily Practice

Ten Frames

Number Lines/ Charts

Bonus: Online Resources

I) Daily Routines

Practicing student's number sense skills daily is a must for developing as a mathematician. Here are teacher approved beginning of 1st grade math teaching tips and ideas.

Anchor Charts

Anchor charts are just what they sound like…something to anchor student learning. Did you know Team Lucky Little Learners has been hard at work creating a 1st grade version of our Lucky to Learn Math Curriculum?! It's true!

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Get all things Lucky to Learn Math 1st Grade below!

The curriculum includes tons of anchor charts to help your little learners retain what they have learned. Let's take a look at this anchor chart routine:

• Display the new anchor chart before the lesson. This gets your students curious. (If you want large anchor charts try this $3 way or do it from your own printer.)
• Introduce the chart: Read it aloud to your students while pointing out any visuals.
• Discuss what the anchor chart means.
• Do several example math problems that demonstrate what the anchor chart is teaching.
• Leave the chart up in the classroom to refer to throughout the year.

Here is a top notch anchor chart for teaching number order:

Example Ordering Numbers Anchor Chart Routine:

1. Have students draw out two playing cards. (Remove face cards and jokers beforehand.)
2. They create a two-digit number with these two cards.
3. Once it is done, draw student names to come up front. When there are three or four students, have the class use the strategies from the chart to order the numbers.
4. Repeat until all students have had a turn.

Number of the Day

Having a daily math chat routine is a great way to build number sense. In first grade it is fun to call it the “number of the day”. Use a graphic organizer to practice the day's special number and cover the following skills:

• Count up and back on a number chart
• Place value: tens & ones
• Comparing numbers: roll two dice to create a number. Decide if it is greater than or less than the number of the day. Repeat a few times.
• Ordering numbers: Using the number boxes, students will need to figure out 1 more, 1 less, 10 more and 10 less of the day's number.
• Expanded and word form
• Even and Odd

Check out this sample number of the day math chat:

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II) Ten Frames

Using ten frames can help students subitize, or know a number without have to count objects. This is the first step to addition fact fluency! Also, for students who need it, they can place the objects in the frame themselves to better understand what “10” means and looks like. (And the pairs that make 10.)

Ten Frame Routines:

• Shake & Spill: Have students put 10 two colored counters (like the red & yellow kind) in a cup. They will then shake the cup and spill the counters out. Have them lay them the way they landed in the tens frame. This will help with ways to make 10.
• Comparing & Ordering Numbers with Partners: Each partner should have a dice, ten frame and 10 objects. They will take turns rolling the dice and placing that many objects in their ten frame. They will compare numbers with their partners to see whose is greater or less. (Bonus idea: If students are ready for an added challenge, have them roll the dice two times and add up their numbers. If their total equals more than ten, they reroll.)
• Subitizing: Print off ten frames flashcards (like these free cards from Ednet.) Students will call out the number pictured in the ten frame. The goal is not to have to count each dot. To learn WAY more about subitizing, head to this post.

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III) Number Lines & Charts

Number lines and charts were the number one mentioned resource when talking with seasoned 1st grade teachers. Teachers stated they used number lines and charts every school day, starting on day one!

Some ideas:

• Use a number chart during a daily calendar/morning meeting time. Roll dice to determine a number of the day and practice finding 1 more/less and 10 more/less of that number.
• Have an interactive number line displayed across a classroom wall to use for a visual when adding/subtracting, counting on, etc.
• Let each student have a number line & chart on their desks for easy access.

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IV) Online Resources

Students (and teachers) love using digital resources as well as print. Here are some top picks from our writing team and veteran teachers.

Jack Hartmann

This music guru has several number sense songs…once for any concept you can think of! Here is a perfect song for teaching ordering numbers.

Interactive Number Charts

Displaying and using a digital number chart together can help students become a hundreds chart master. Check out the interactive charts from abcya.com and Toy Theater.

Ten Frame Mania

Greg Tang, a master at making math engaging, has the perfect game to get students more familiar with ten frames, while having a blast!

Happy Teaching!

With your know how and teaching suitcase of tricks, as well as these resources and Team Lucky Little Learners by your side, your students are sure to make great gains in number sense…starting day one!