How the Counter Works

Here is the 3-place, or demonstration, counter.

To get started, you must flip down the kickstand.

Like this.

Now, place the counter on the floor or on a table.

Holders can be placed onto the counter. Each size holder fits onto a corresponding hook.

Put one of each size holder onto the counter.

You can now load blocks onto the counter. There are 2 blocks-of-10 and 8 single blocks on the counter. Students need very little instruction to see that the single blocks go in the small holder, the blocks-of-10 go in the middle holder and the blocks-of-100 go in the larger holder.

Notice that the counter automatically arranges the blocks from right to left according to their size. This is especially helpful for students who are not sure of their footing.

We can add one more single block to the counter to get 29. What will happen when we add the 10th single block to the ones place?

You can’t have 10 single blocks on the counter. The 10th holder pushes down the hook, causing the filled holder to slide off of the counter. Children delight to see this!

Where can the filled holder go? It is very clear to students that they must cover this filled holder, put the newly formed block-of-10 into the tens place, and put a new, empty holder on the singles hook.

Now we have 3 blocks-of-10 and no single blocks on the counter.

What happens if we add seven more blocks-of-10?

The first six fit in just fine.

When we add the seventh block, we end up with 10 blocks-of-10 on the counter. And they slide off!

Now we put a top on the filled holder, and load the newly created block-of-100 onto the counter.

We now have 100 loaded on the counter.

Additional features of the 3-place counter: You can write on the white board. You can hide the dials.

The pen is stored on the side of the counter.

There is also a smaller 2-place counter designed for individual or group student work.