Counting, reading, and writing numbers to 120
In 1st grade, children learn to count to 120 starting from any number and to read and write numerals up to 120.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
Try these with your child
These are real questions from our 1st grade practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
Count by tens: 10, 20, 30, 40, __. What number comes next?
- 51
- 50
- 60
Why this matters
Counting past 100 gives your child the satisfying discovery that the patterns of our number system keep going, so much larger numbers feel familiar instead of new. In 2nd grade, children read, write, and compare numbers up to 1,000, and starting a count from any number, like 87, is what lets them count on when adding. It also helps with everyday things like finding page 104 in a book.
Where kids can get stuck
- Stalling at a new ten, saying "68, 69, 60" or "79, 70-10" instead of moving on to 70 or 80.
- Stumbling past 100, counting on as "200, 300" or writing one hundred five as 1005 instead of 105.
- Reversing the digits of teen numbers, writing 61 for sixteen because the word starts with the sound of six.
How you can help
- Start counting from a random number while waiting in line, like "Let's count from 46," and take turns saying the next number. Pause on numbers ending in 9 so your child can make the jump.
- Count a big collection at home, such as coins, pasta pieces, or toy cars, by grouping them into piles of ten, then write the total together on a scrap of paper.
- Read house numbers, page numbers, and prices aloud on walks or while reading books, and ask your child what number would come next or right before.
Want a little more? Watch the kid-friendly video below together, or try Bobby's Math Club for free practice that adapts to your child.
Kid-friendly explanation
Questions parents ask
Why is my child learning to count to 120 instead of 100?
Going past 100 shows your child that the counting pattern keeps going in the same way. After 100 comes 101, 102, and so on, in the same way that after 20 comes 21. Seeing this repeating pattern helps children understand how numbers are built, which supports place value and larger numbers in 2nd grade.
My child can count to 100 from 1 but gets lost starting at 57. Is that normal?
Yes, very normal. Counting from 1 can be a memorized chant, while starting at 57 requires knowing where numbers fall in the sequence. Practice starting in different places, especially right before a new ten, like 58 or 98. Short, frequent practice in everyday moments helps more than long sessions.
What is the hardest part of counting to 120?
The trickiest spots are usually the changes to a new ten, like going from 79 to 80, and the move from 99 to 100 and beyond. Writing numbers past 100, such as 108 or 117, is also hard, because children often write what they hear, like 1008. Practicing these specific spots helps most.
Make learning math fun
Bobby's Math Club turns 1st grade math practice into something fun to do together.
- Unlimited free practice
- A few minutes a day, at just the right level
- You see their progress and what to work on next
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
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Join the clubNote for teachers: This skill is covered by Common Core math standard 1.NBT.A.1: “Count to 120, starting at any number less than 120. In this range, read and write numerals and represent a number of objects with a written numeral.” Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow. (Common Core 1.NBT.1)