# Skip count “starting at one”

My daughter is taking a second grade math class and they are learning to "skip count" I am guessing this means to count by [n]. The directions say "Start at 1. Skip count by 2." and the worksheet has a 10x10 grid where they are supposed to color in the numbers.

Maybe my comprehension skills are failing, and I'm probably over thinking this, but we both find "Start at 1" confusing. Do you think they mean (3,5,7...) or is this standard count by 2 (e.g. 2,4,6...)?

Who said there are no dumb questions?

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They probably mean $1,3,5,7\dots$. –  André Nicolas Sep 12 '12 at 23:48
"Skip count" means to count while skipping, or to skip while counting. Both are more fun when done together than when done separately. –  Doug Spoonwood Sep 12 '12 at 23:58
Was the class given similar problems? Were they asked, say, to start at 1 and skip count by 3, or to start at 2 and skip count by 2? –  Joel Reyes Noche Sep 13 '12 at 0:10
@Joel :( The worksheets have no other instruction. Literally. "Start at 1. Skip count by 2." My kids "stay on green" and pay attention in class... and possibly forget what they were taught before they get home? But they say the teacher didn't explain it. I struggle with these problems everyday. They taught it a little different 20 years ago. :) –  Shanimal Sep 13 '12 at 13:08
@Doug, my grandfather was an eight degree black belt in several Asian combat arts. I invited him to my jiu-jitsu class a few years ago. I asked him what the difference was between how he did it then and how I did it. He said it was pretty much the same stuff, but now its more refined. Im no expert, but Math seems to have a similar characteristic. –  Shanimal Sep 13 '12 at 13:16

## 1 Answer

They probably mean $1,3,5,7,\dots$. After all, if we said "start at $1$ and count to $5$," we would respond $1,2,3,4,5$. There is some ambiguity, of course, but I imagine that in a classroom setting a sample was provided. And it is not a dumb question.

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Logical answer. Thank you. –  Shanimal Sep 13 '12 at 0:22