Why teach tally marks? Mrs. Berg at 1st Grade Toolbox teaches them right at the beginning of the school year so that students get immediate practice in counting and skip counting, grouping, and representing numbers. The fun part is not the teaching of the tally marks, however. The fun part is how she teaches them. Click over and see her colorful “stick story” manipulatives and consider what stories and materials you might create for your students. As Ms. Berg points out, there are students who will not only love your narrative, but need it to learn this skill.