You can do this! Don't give up!

Title Page:

The story idea was created by Barbara Campbell. Barbara is a student at Middle Georgia State University and is currently enrolled in the Education Program. This math storybook was created in 2021 for Mrs. Rogers' math course at Middle Georgia State University. 

Author's Note:

Place value is such an important part of math and when our young learners do not have a good grasp on place value, math will always be a struggle in every grade. I encourage all parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to work with your little ones on place value concepts! Start early! Check out these free resources for fun ways to learn place value! 

www.splashlearn.com

http://interactivesites.weebly.com/

www.ABCYA.com

ww.coolmath.com

www.starfall.com

www.khanacademy.com

11 + 9 =

21 + 8 =

17 + 12 =

What's value of a digit mean?

I'm so confused!

What does my teacher mean about place value?

What's a group of ten?????

James is a second-grader who is getting ready to move to the third grade. There is only one thing making James nervous about going to the third grade...PLACE VALUE! He struggles with place value when working with numbers. His teacher keeps talking about how students in the third grade will be adding and subtracting three-digit numbers. This has James' stomach in knots! It's almost like there is an Evil Place Value Monster keeping James from understanding. 

James' friend Shamar isn't worried about moving to the third grade. Shamar keeps telling James not to worry...he'll get place value. "You just need to practice dude! I'll help you!" says Shamar.

Place value concepts are nothing to be afraid of! Shamar has a plan!

Base Ten Models can help learn 

place value concepts!         239 + 125

123 + 47

Here are your place value manipulatives. You're all set!

Shamar enlists the help of Jenny, one of James' classmates. Together, Jenny and Shamar go to the library to check out some base ten manipulatives. Jenny finds the base ten place value mat from her desk. She tells Shamar that the base ten place value mat really helped her learn about the hundreds, tens, and ones place in two and three-digit numbers. Once they have everything ready, Shamar and Jenny will sit down with James for a place value learning session. 

After checking out the base ten manipulatives, Shamar and Jenny head back to the classroom to help James learn place value. They start with making tens using the small unit cubes. They take turns counting out ten unit cubes and trading for a tens rod. Shamar watches as James counts out ten unit cubes and trades them for a tens rod using the place value mat. Jenny explains that once there are ten unit cubes, they must move to the tens place. The three friends continue counting and trading until James feels comfortable moving to hundreds flats. James can feel the Evil PLace Value Monster get smaller!

Count out ten unit cubes and then trade those for a rod. One rod equals a group of ten. 

15 = 1 ten and 5 ones

29 = 2 tens and 9 ones

42 = 4 tens and 2 ones

123 = 1 hundred, 2 tens, and 3 ones

5 tens = 50

8 tens = 80

3 tens = 30

9 tens = 90

10 tens = 100 

2 hundreds = 200

Each digit in a number represents an amount or value. In the number 23, the value of the 2 is 20.

James has been practicing and is actually getting the hang of place value. He is beginning to understand that each digit in a number has a specific value, or how much that number represents. Shamar and Jenny teach James how to trade ten tens for a hundreds flat. James starts working with three-digit numbers. His confidence is growing which is making the Evil Place Value Monster grow even smaller! He is starting to feel better about third grade.

James begins to discover that working with three-digit numbers is really no big deal. He just needs to practice and remember that each number represents a specific amount. He continues to use his base ten manipulatives to trade units for rods and rods for flats.

I just need to relax! I've got this place value thing! 

114=1 hundred, 1 ten, and 4 ones

326 = 3 hundreds, 2 groups of tens, and 6 ones

Jenny and Shamar practice composing and decomposing three-digit numbers with James until they are confident he can do it. They draw pictures and create models using the base ten manipulatives. This helps James see the numbers and the value of each number. 

I think I understand!

We knew you would!

Through hard work and practice, James is no longer afraid to move to the third grade. Thanks to his friends Jenny and Shamar, he learned place value concepts and can work with three-digit numbers with ease. James understands that each digit in any given number represents a specific value or amount. He is ready to tackle addition and subtraction by composing and decomposing three-digit numbers and has kicked the Evil Place Value Monster to the curb!

Rest In Peace Evil Place Value Monster! 

Message from James:

Be confident when you move to the third grade and practice place value concepts. Once you have a handle on place value, you can do anything in math! Beware of the Evil Place Value Monster...don't let him steal your place value or number sense! 

You Got This!