turven

Turven is a Dutch verb meaning to count or tally. In everyday language and in mathematics education, turven refers to the practice of keeping track of numbers by marking tallies, counting on fingers, or pairing objects with numbers. The term can also refer to the tally marks themselves or the act of counting with tallies.

Common methods of turven include counting objects one by one, using finger counting, or writing tally marks. A standard tally method groups counts in sets of five, typically four vertical marks crossed by a diagonal to indicate five. This grouping helps simplify keeping track of larger quantities.

In education, turven is a foundational skill for developing one-to-one correspondence and number sense. It is used to teach basic counting, simple addition and subtraction, and to compare quantities. Turven also supports the transition from concrete counting to abstract arithmetic by providing a visible record of quantities.

Today, turven is often part of early grade curricula and classroom activities. While digital tools and mental arithmetic are increasingly common, the practice of turven remains a simple, tangible method for counting and tallying that supports numerical understanding across different ages.