Teen Numbers: 10 and Some More (Kindergarten–1st Grade)

What is it?

Every teen number, from 11 to 19, is one ten and some more ones. Seeing that helps your child read and write teen numbers (the 1 in 14 means one ten) and later add with tens. The lesson fills a ten frame, a box with ten spaces, with counters. Once it is full, whatever is left over is the ones.

Step by step: 14

1. Start with 14 counters. How many tens and ones?
2. Fill the ten frame. 10 counters make 1 ten.
3. 4 counters are left over. That is 4 ones.
4. So 14 is 10 and 4.
5. In the written number 14, the 1 means one ten and the 4 means 4 ones.

Common mistakes

• Reading the 1 in 14 as "one". It stands for one ten.
• Mixing up teen names and digits, like writing 41 for fourteen because you hear "four" first.
• Counting every counter from 1 again instead of starting at 10 once the frame is full.

Your turn

The lesson ends with a problem to try. Pause and let your child work it out before you check.

17 is 10 and how many more?

Answer: 7. Fill a ten frame with 10 counters, and 7 are left over. 17 is 10 and 7.

Practice at home

Use an egg carton with two cups cut off (ten spaces) and small objects. Put out a teen number of objects, fill the ten first, and say the number as "ten and some more". Then write the number and point to the 1 for the ten and the other digit for the ones.