What does the digit in the tens place represent in a two-digit number?

The digit in the tens place represents how many groups of ten there are.

If you have 23 apples, how many groups of ten apples do you have, and how many single apples are left?

There are 2 groups of ten apples and 3 single apples left.

I can show that I understand that the two digits of a two-digit number represent amounts of tens and ones.

1
Our number system is called ‘base 10’ because it uses ten different symbols called digits for counting.
2
The number place to the left of the ones place is called the tens place, and it counts groups of ten.
3
The number PLACE that a digit is in determines its VALUE, and writing a number in ‘Expanded Form’ shows the combination of different groups.