Common mistakes in understanding place value can actually help Year 1 students learn better.

Key Mistakes

• Misreading digits: About 70% of students mix up the value of a number based on where it is. For example, they might confuse the $2$ in $21$ with $20$.
• Mistakes in addition: Around 60% of students add numbers incorrectly. They might think $23$ plus $15$ is $38$ instead of figuring out the tens and ones.

Learning Opportunities

1. Hands-On Tools: Use base-ten blocks to help students see what place value looks like.
2. Fun Games: Get students involved with interactive games to make learning enjoyable and strengthen their understanding.
3. Correcting Mistakes Together: Encourage students to find and fix mistakes as a group. This helps them think critically and learn from each other.