What is the Best Way to Teach Place Value?
What’s the best way to teach place value?
We all know students need to understand place value to in order to do math.
But, what is the BEST way to teach place value?
How do we introduce place value to children in a way that truly helps them grasp the concept?
How can we make place value interesting, relevant, and attainable for them?
And once we have that down, when is the best time to teach place value?
The beginning of the year? After winter break? After a certain skill or concept??
I’m breaking all of that down here in this blog post.
(PSST! Short on time? Pin this article on one of your boards so you can read it later.)
So, what IS the best way to teach place value?
Table of Contents
Before we can truly know the best way to teach place value, we need to have a firm understanding of why it’s important, and how the understanding of place value affects all other concepts in upper elementary math.
This starts with a genuine understanding by the teacher about what place value truly is.
What is place value?
And what does place value mean in 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade math?
Place value is the whole number and value system that our mathematics is based upon.
That’s the gist of what you’ll find when you do a quick Google search with a question like, “What is place value?”
Place value is the numeric value of a digit, which changes depending upon its position in a number.
This can be seen most easily in a place value chart. Typically, when students are first learning this concept, they’re introduced to the ones, tens, hundreds and thousands places.
This is because students in 3rd and 4th grade are working with students up to the hundreds and thousands places.
In 5th grade, students typically start learning how to work with decimals. It’s then that they’ll need to know the place values on the right-hand side of the decimal.
Here’s an example of a printable place value chart.
You can get this for free by clicking here!
Place value is a very abstract concept – especially when you’re being introduced to it for the first time!
So for students to get it, place value needs to be presented in a way that helps students make sense and meaning, with what they’re learning.
This is why I LOVE teaching with manipulatives.
And I’m an especially big fan of using money as a manipulative – because it’s something they can use immediately and throughout their lives. When there’s motivation and real-world application related to the concept, the likelihood is increased that they’ll retain and apply what they’re learning (this paper shares more about that if you’re interested in authentic learning and real-world teaching!).
I actually created a video that dives into what place value is, that also includes some strategies for teaching place value with digital manipulatives.
You can watch that by clicking here.
How Do You Introduce Place Value to Students?
Once we know what place value is, how can we ensure that we’re teaching it as effectively as we can?
And, how can we ensure that the students are actually learning it? It’s all too easy for us to turn around and say, “Oh yeah, they learned it!!” when really, we’ve just taught it.
Teaching a lesson, and having a student learn from a lesson, are two entirely realities.
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We can all think of a lesson that we thought was going SO well – only to find out later that it totally bombed!
And it’s not because you haven’t worked hard, or that you’re not striving to use the best strategies.
Since you’re here, I know you’re a COMMITTED teacher.
You don’t just want to know HOW to teach place value.
You want to know the BEST way to teach place value.
Here are some practical strategies you can use:
Use Manipulatives to Introduce and Teach Place Value
I’m a huge fan of manipulatives.
Manipulatives include any hand-on materials, tools or resources that help students to build conceptual understanding through concrete activities.
They make math more real for students, and they’re especially helpful for students who struggle with reading, since they can learn about place value kinesthetically.
Over the past couple of years, a greater conversation started place around online, digital manipulatives.
I’d say that nothing beats the real thing. But of course, if you have to teach remotely, there are some great cloud-based tools, apps and websites you can use to help students use digital manipulatives (keep reading to learn more about those).
Being able to physically touch items helps students develop number sense, and it’s something that can’t be properly mimicked online.
Thankfully, having quality manipulatives doesn’t need to be expensive. And your school likely has boxes of manipulatives somewhere in storage.
But if you’re brand new to teaching, or new to using manipulatives while teaching, you might be putting together a list of items to have in the classroom.
Here’s my list of my MUST-have manipulatives:
These linking blocks are great for teaching place value, shapes, ratio, percentages and fractions. I even use them to help students with math fact mastery!
Many place value base ten cube sets come in different colors. I prefer having all cubes be the same color, so I can demonstrate that each individual cube is identical cubic unit.
Here’s one way to use those base ten blocks! You can give students some numbers, then have them model that number with blocks. This could be part of a whole-group mini-lesson, or it can be something students do during a center activity.
If your students are still very new to the concept of place value, this manipulative would be a great tool to help them start envisioning the place value chart.
Once your students have a grasp on their ones, tens, hundreds and thousands, you can graduate them up to even more place values.
I think it’s truly best for students when they can apply what they’re learning to the real world. For this reason, I believe in using real money whenever possible. But if that’s not an option, these coin and cash manipulatives are very realistic!
Use Digital Manipulatives When You Teach Math Virtually
Though I think there are way more opportunities for learning with in-person instruction than with online or hybrid teaching, I was pleasantly surprised with how many resources are out there!
In the above listed YouTube Video, I’ll walk you through how to use place value charts and digital manipulatives from ToyTheater (bookmark that site! It’s amazing!!).
When teaching virtually, I recommend having all of the manipulatives you plan to use open in separate tabs. Organize them in the order you plan to use them from left to right on your browser. Then, as you finish working with one, close that tab and move on to the next one.
Use Money as a Manipulative When Teaching Place Value
I consider money (REAL money – not plastic coins and paper play money!!) to be one of the best manipulatives you can use when teaching place value.
It’s authentic; students interact with money on a daily basis.
It’s relevant; students consistently hear adults talking about and working with money.
It’s fun; I’ll talk more about this in a minute.
But anyone who educates children, knows just how important it is to make math fun and engaging! Money is especially engaging, because students know from a young age that they can use money to buy things they want to have.
Fun Ways to Teach Place Value
Now, you’re asking the REAL questions!! hehe
And it really is a good question. How do we teach students concepts like number, expanded and word forms numbers, while simultaneously reinforcing the basics of place value and making it all engaging?!
It’s enough to make your head spin.
But good on you, teacher!! You’re using your valuable time to make math more fun for students. I have so much respect for you!
Have Students Write a Check to Their Friend
This is another vote for using money to introduce and reinforce the concepts of place value.
I LOVE this activity for a number of reasons.
- This activity teaches standard, expanded, and word forms – while reinforcing the foundations of place value as a concept.
- The check-writing activity shows an actual, real-life, daily application for using what they’re learning. That said, I feel I need to add an asterisk there, because most of us don’t write paper checks in daily life anymore!! But checking cards work the same way, so it would still be great for students to understand what’s happening when a debit card gets swiped.
- It’s fun!! There’s almost always a student who wants to write a check for an exorbitant amount to their friend. And they can absolutely do that. I don’t put a limit on them!! But I do tell them, that they’ll want to make sure they’re writing the correct amount – so that they’re giving the right amount of money!!
- It’s fast. This activity can take as little as 10-15 minutes, or it can be longer if you want to add more to the lesson.
- It’s flexible. This lesson can easily be expanded upon if you also want to teach about money, finances and/or budgeting.
Note that this is part of a video mini-lesson, place value worksheet and dice partner game set –
so it’s actually a BONUS activity!
This is something I do with my students every year. And now that I also teach STEM and entrepreneurship, I’ve incorporated this activity into those curriculums, too.
Let Your Students Play With Money
I totally get that there are a million and one reasons to not let your students play with money.
Yes, they COULD steal it if they’re playing with coins and dollars on their own.
They COULD just lose coins in the mysterious black hole that is the classroom.
I get it; it’s as risk. But I assure you, it’s a risk worth taking.
Money is one of the easiest, most tangible ways for students to build an understanding of place value, and then eventually, place value with decimals.
Now, there ARE ways to mitigate your risk.
You can have an accounting sheet that students fill out before they actually receive their money.
You could even designate one person from each group as the ‘accountant (if you assign jobs for group work), to help that student practice responsibility (while the others are being held accountable by that student).
Will there be conflict? Of course.
Will students fight over the money and the jobs? Definitely lol
But do it anyway.
You can mitigate the risk of conflict, too!
I actually created this resource to help teachers manage the use of money as manipulatives in the classroom.
But you can also use it as a counting money worksheet, place value worksheet, or as a way to teach responsibility for your plastic coin and paper bill manipulatives.
Not ready to buy a resource today? That’s OK!
But I’d so appreciate you following my store!
Wanna see this product in action? I know that always helps me when I’m checking out resources.
If so, check out the video below!
Or, click here to subscribe to my YouTube Channel.
Give Many Opportunities for Your Students to Practice Place Value
If you’ve heard me speak before, you’ve likely heard me talk about math workshop.
I absolutely love how that model allows for you to touch on content in different settings and modalities.
I’ve made my own tweaks to this over the years to develop a framework that’s really my own – but one thing that’s just classic, timeless and universal, is the fact that students need multiple opportunities to practice.
This is just how we learn.
We need multiple exposures to any learning material, and ESPECIALLY when it’s new.
We need time to explore, think, and build the skills needed to master understanding of a concept.
You have so many opportunities for students in the classroom to interact with content:
- Individual ‘spark’ activities to pique their interest
- Whole-group lesson
- Center group activities
- Exit tickets
- Group projects
- Individual and/or home-centered practice
When I’m teaching a new concept, I like to make sure students are interacting with this content at every interval, and in a myriad of ways.
And though I know they get a bad rap, worksheets are GREAT for this – especially if they’re designed well.
Place Value Practice Worksheets
As much as I love building conceptual understanding and number sense, worksheets are classic for a reason. They work!!
You can buy your own copy here, in my TPT store.
Sometimes, I think we teachers are guilty of making things more complicated than they need to be. I know I’m definitely guilty of that!!
In my years as a teacher, I’ve noticed that the things that make the biggest impact on a student’s learning (and life, honestly!!) tend to be simple and sweet.
However, I also get that simple doesn’t always mean easy.
This is why I strive to create fun, engaging, and no-prep resources that help students build true math fluency. If you’re not already following my store, click this link to do so. I’d appreciate the support! 🤗
Once you have a few good worksheets, you can really repurpose these assignments to work for whole-group lessons, math center activities, or even as exit ticket checks for understanding.
Your Next Steps
I hope you feel a little more confident and ready to teach place value!
If you do, that’s great. Share this article with your teacher friends who need some ideas.
If you’re not feeling ready yet, don’t worry. You’ll get there!
And I have so many other resources to help you. check them out below!
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Thanks so much for taking the time to read this far down! It’s not lost on me, because I know how strapped for time we all are.
I’d so appreciate you taking the time to comment below and share this post. But if you don’t have the time for that now, be sure to grab your freebie before you go!
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There are so many teachers out there who are not getting the support they need.
If you know any other 3rd, 4th or 5th grade teachers who could benefit from learning the best way to teach place value, I’d so appreciate you sharing this blog post with them!
Pin This Blog Post
There are so many teachers out there who are not getting the support they need.
If you know any other 3rd, 4th or 5th grade teachers who could benefit from learning the best way to teach place value, I’d so appreciate you sharing this blog post with them!
Be sure to tell them how to get the free place value charts, too.
Download Your Free Place Value Charts
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If you haven’t already, be sure to grab your free place value charts by clicking here.
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