Resources:

When learning to count, there are three main principles of counting:

  • Ordered Sequence of Counting Numbers: The sequence of the counting numbers is important.

  • One-to-One Principle: Each number should represent one object, and each object should get only one number.

  • Cardinal Principle: The last number in the counting sequence represents the number of objects in the collection.

Children can learn these in any order and may know any combination of them at any time. Below are examples of the different situations that may arise.

Montel - Understanding the Ordered Sequence of Counting Numbers

Alysha - Understanding None of the Three Principles

Celia - Understanding the One-to-One Principle

Eisa - Understanding the Ordered Sequence of Counting Numbers and the One-to-One Principle

Cobie - Understanding the One-to-One Principle and the Cardinal Principle

Mohamed - Understanding the Cardinal Principle

Derry - Understanding the Ordered Sequence of Counting Numbers and The Cardinal Principle

Shaan - Understanding All of The Three Principles