1st Grade Math Skills: A Complete Checklist for Parents
A plain-language checklist of 1st grade math skills, from making 10 to tens and ones, with quick checks and everyday ways to practice at home.
By BAMS Academy Team 5 min read
In this article
First grade is when math starts to feel like "real" math. Children move from counting objects to using strategies, and from single digits to tens and ones. The 1st grade math skills learned this year, especially addition and subtraction within 20 and early place value, carry straight into 2nd grade and beyond.
If you've wondered what 1st graders learn in math, this first grade math checklist lays it out in plain language, with quick ways to check each skill at home. It builds on our guide to kindergarten math skills and is part of our complete elementary math practice guide.
A note on standards: grade-level expectations vary by state. This checklist reflects skills that are common in US 1st grade classrooms. Your child's teacher can tell you exactly what their school covers.
The first grade math checklist
Use the "quick check" column to see where your child is. A skill doesn't need to be perfect in the fall; these are end-of-year goals.
Addition and subtraction
| Skill | Quick check at home |
|---|---|
| Add and subtract within 20 using strategies | Ask 8 + 5. Do they count on from 8, or "make 10" (8 + 2 + 3)? |
| Add and subtract within 10 fluently | Can they answer 6 + 4 or 9 − 3 without counting on fingers? |
| Understand that subtraction is a missing addend | Ask: "What plus 4 makes 10?" Do they connect it to 10 − 4? |
| Solve one-step word problems | "You had 12 stickers and gave away 5. How many are left?" |
| Understand the equal sign | Is 5 + 2 = 4 + 3 true? Many children think "=" means "the answer comes next." |
Place value and numbers to 120
- Count, read and write numbers up to 120, starting from any number
- Understand that a two-digit number is made of tens and ones (34 is 3 tens and 4 ones)
- Compare two-digit numbers using greater than, less than and equal to
- Add a two-digit number and a one-digit number, or a multiple of ten
- Find 10 more or 10 less than a number without counting
Measurement, time and data
- Order three objects by length
- Measure length using same-size units, like paper clips
- Tell time to the hour and half hour on analog and digital clocks
- Read and answer questions about simple charts and tally tables
Shapes
- Tell shapes apart by their defining features (a triangle has three sides, whatever its color or size)
- Put shapes together to make new shapes
- Split circles and rectangles into halves and fourths
The two big ideas that matter most
If you only focus on two things this year, make them these.
Making 10. Children who know the pairs that make 10 (1 + 9, 2 + 8, 3 + 7 and so on) can solve harder facts by breaking them apart. For example, 9 + 6 becomes 9 + 1 + 5, which is 10 + 5. This strategy shows up again in 2nd grade with larger numbers.
Tens and ones. Understanding that the 4 in 47 means four tens, not four, is the foundation of place value. Without it, adding and subtracting bigger numbers later becomes a list of memorized steps rather than something that makes sense.
Everyday ways to practice
- Bundle and count. Group straws, pencils or coins into bundles of ten. Ask how many tens and how many ones.
- Play "ten more, ten less." Say a number like 36. Your child answers 46 and 26.
- Make 10 with cards. Use a deck of cards (remove face cards) and find pairs that add up to 10.
- Read clocks together. Ask what time it is on the hour and half hour, and what you'll do then.
- Turn snack time into story problems. "There are 15 crackers. If you eat 6, how many are left?"
Short and regular works better than long and rare. About ten minutes most days is a realistic target for a 1st grader.
When you want structured practice, you can try 1st grade addition and subtraction problems. Every answer comes with a full explanation, so your child can see why an answer is right.
When a skill needs more support
Some patterns are worth a closer look by the second half of the year:
- Counting every item from 1 to solve 7 + 2, instead of counting on from 7
- Reading 41 as "fourteen," or writing 31 when they mean 13
- Guessing whether to add or subtract in word problems
- Getting upset or shutting down when asked to do mental math
Go back a step when you see these. Use objects and drawings until the idea feels solid, then return to numbers. If a pattern continues for weeks, a short conversation with the teacher can help you both work on the same thing.
Looking ahead to 2nd grade
In 2nd grade, children add and subtract within 100 and learn place value to the hundreds. A strong 1st grade year makes that jump much smoother. You can see all subjects for this year on the 1st grade practice page.
Frequently asked questions
Should a 1st grader know addition facts by heart?
Many programs expect quick recall of facts within 10 by the end of 1st grade, and strategy-based solving within 20. Full fluency within 20 is usually a 2nd grade goal.
My child still counts on their fingers. Is that a problem?
Not early in the year. Fingers help children understand numbers. The goal is to move gradually toward strategies like counting on and making 10, which are faster and more reliable.
How much math practice does a 1st grader need at home?
About ten minutes on most days is enough for many 1st graders, especially if it includes games and everyday math. Consistency matters more than length.
