Yousef Dehghani

How to develop the concept of place value in elementary school children and investigating the challenges of understanding this concept Ghazal Motevasseli Background: The present study examines the stages and processes of developing the concept of place value in children, along with the challenges they face in understanding it. Aim: This research aims to construct a model based on collected data to explain the formation process and stages of children’s understanding of place value. Methodology: Using a qualitative approach grounded in theory, data were collected through direct observation and semi-structured interviews with children aged 6–10. After interpretation, discussion, and coding by the research team, the final model was developed. Conclusions: Place value encompasses aspects such as number sequence mastery, recognition of base numbers, understanding ordinal numbers, tens grouping, and counting strategies. Children faced challenges including errors, Reference reasoning, and difficulty applying concepts. Understanding place value in children aged 6–10 develops through mastering all stages of the concept, with challenges that, once overcome, enhance comprehension. Mastery of the unit and tens grouping concepts is crucial for advanced understanding of the place value concept, yet most children had not fully achieved this. Only a few reached the highest level of place value comprehension. Keywords: Place value concept, Children’s understanding, Unit concept, Tens grouping, Concept of ten