We have been practicing our counting scales at a good pace. In this section we take the next step by evaluating an integer to determine which number should appear before it and after it on a normal number sequence. The best way to think about these values is to act as if you were looking at a number line. I like to practice this with students using a few different methods. My favorite, probably because this is how I learned it, is to use flashcards. Just write an integer on each card and wait for choral responses from your class. You can even have students go several digits forward and backward. We move forward with advancing our goal towards using math operations with this complement of worksheets. Students work on finding the number that comes before or after the number in a math statement. Working off of the 100 number chart students should be able to form a solid opinion on the number that falls in that range. Students are working on how to identify the numbers that come before and after a given number in a sequence. All numbers are between 100 and 1000.

It is helpful to jump around a large scale to have students activate knowledge they did not even know they had. My best advice with this skill is to review it often and always. The old practice makes perfect model is for sure to work. These lessons and activities are designed to help elementary students learn how to count 3- and 4-digit numbers and think critically about number sequences.