Add 10 is the place value family: the ones digit stays put and the tens digit grows.

Counting on from 10

  1. 11
  2. 12
  3. 13
  4. 14
  5. 15
  6. 16
  7. 17
  8. 18
  9. 19
  10. 20
  11. 21
  12. 22

The ones digit of the answer is always the ones digit of the other number: 10 + 4 = 14 and 10 + 9 = 19.

Tip for the add 10 facts

Put a 1 in front of the other number up to 9: 10 + 7 = 17. For 10 + 12, the tens go from 1 to 2 and the ones stay at 2, which makes 22.

The 3 hardest facts

The jump from 19 to 20 trips children, and 10 + 12 needs the tens digit to change. Say each answer aloud as tens and ones.

Turnaround facts

Swapping the numbers gives the same answer, so each fact below is learned once and used twice.

Play the add 10 facts game

Untimed by default. A missed fact shows its answer and comes back later in the round.

One US Letter page, clear in black and white.

Download the PDF

Questions parents ask

Why start with add 10 so early?

It shows place value in action. A child who sees that 10 + 6 is 'one ten and six' understands why the teen numbers are named as they are.

Is add 10 the same as counting by ones ten times?

In effect, yes, but the goal is one jump. Show ten as a single block and let the child add the block in one move.