Mathematics
Montessori Mathematics separates mathematics from being able to write. This enables children to advance their mathematical knowledge without being held back by their writing skills. Montessori Mathematics also separates number symbols from the physical quantities. This allows children to have time to learn what numbers look like and their sequence whilst in parallel they learn about quantities. Once mastered separately both of these concepts are united with Montessori materials that combine both numbers and quantities.
Preparation for Mathematics
The foundations for Mathematics are established long before the child visits the Mathematics learning area in the preschool. Children are exposed to mathematics indirectly. They hear number rhymes such as “One two three four five once I caught a fish alive….”. We encourage them by talking about numbers in terms of time etc. and counting when possible. This helps children to recognise the names of the numbers and their sequence.
Other learning areas of the curriculum prepare your child for Mathematics. The Activities of Everyday Living and Sensorial learning areas prepare children by sorting, matching, grading as well as hand eye coordination, concentration and being able to complete a task. Many of the Sensorial learning area materials consist of sequences of ten objects. These indirectly prepare children for later mathematics and helps them to count and apply sequencing.
Mathematics materials
The Montessori Mathematics materials are physical items such as beads, counters and number cards arranged on their own trays. They are presented in a defined order to impart and exercise specific concepts. Sandpaper numbers teach your child what the numbers look like. Graduated counting rods allow them to count to ten whilst visually being able to see the quantities.
