Counting and Printing Numbers

Teaching a learner to count whole numbers is easy. Here are a few suggestions to help a learner begin to count.

First, remember that the main objective with teaching counting is to help the learner achieve automatic recognition of a number or numbers in print (i.e. two, three..), in symbol (i.e. 6, 7, 8..) and in amount of objects (i.e. O O O O = 4).

The best overall method is to see that a learner repeatedly sees numbers, hears numbers, and speaks numbers and, in the case of counting objects, feels numbers, then, the learner will succeed in learning to count.

Early childhood: The best way to teach counting is to get some objects that children can’t swallow such as balls or blocks (educators call these objects manipulatives) and demonstrate counting them slowly. Next, have the learner help count the objects, too.

You count, they count, keep counting start counting toys, count legs, arms or fingers, count spoons, count cars, count the things they clean up, count, count. The more counting the child does, the better counter they become.

For activities that introduce counting objects, use things like the dog pictures below. You can also help the learner by printing the correct number in the space provided with the picture. Let them watch you form the numbers, then let the learner try. Don’t be too critical of the results at this point. Praise the child for trying and keep things moving along.

	How many dogs?______
	How many dogs?_____

Go here for a count spiders 1-10 worksheet.

Printing Numbers Tips and Tricks

To introduce writing numbers as symbols use the following template, trace the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 on it.

Or go here to get a count and trace worksheet.

Another activity is to draw a number line on a piece of paper or on these number lines. Print the numbers 1-10 slowly while you say the number aloud. As the learner catches on, reduce your input. Eventually, have the learner print the numbers on the number lines themselves.

And yet another activity is to make a set of numbers like the ones that follow.

Here it is as an activity worksheet but it has a few elements missing.

HOT TIP! One of the best activities to help learners with all stages of counting, addition and multiplication is to help them know the multiples of each number.

For example:

First, help the learner associate the number on the right of each line to those left of it through counting or addition. Then, take one line every-other day and help the learner memorize each line. If you make each line rhyme (or rap) somehow it seems to help kids remember them. This isn’t a lot of fun, but knowing these helps establish certain numbers to other “multiples” of that number. Slowly, help the learner master them. Peat and repeat this often by using this activity:

Find the Missing Multiples Activity

And finally, play games with numbers on spinners and games with dice and counting. They’re great ways to introduce children to counting.