Maryland Math 1.NOS.A.1.a

Math1st GradeNumber and Operation Sense

The Standard

Count forward and backwards by ones starting with any number.

Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for Mathematics (2025) · EXTEND THE COUNT SEQUENCE.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students start at a given number and count forward by ones. They also count backward by ones, even when the count crosses a ten or 100.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given 98, a student says 98, 99, 100, 101. The student can then start at 101 and count back to 98 without skipping a number.
Common Misconceptions: Some students skip 100 when counting forward from 99. Others say 71 after 70 when asked to count backward, or stop at 100 because they cannot name 99.
How to Assess It: Ask each student: “Start at 97 and say six numbers counting forward. Now start at 103 and say six numbers counting backward.”

Lesson moves

Lay number cards 47 to 53 in a row; place a counter on 50 and move one card at a time in both directions.
Ask partners, “What comes right before 100, and how can you check?” Have them count backward aloud from 102.
Play Count and Pass: draw a number card from 20 to 110, flip an up or down arrow, and pass a beanbag while counting five numbers.
Show elevator buttons 1 to 12; start at floor 7 and name each floor on a ride to 12, then down to 3.

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