MONTESSORI MATHEMATICS: THE CONCRETE WAY OF LEARNING

(NOVEMBER 16, 2024)

The training session on Montessori Mathematics: The Concrete Way of Learning conducted by the G D Goenka La Petite Teacher Tribe focused on enhancing early math skills and teaching the relationship between numbers and quantity. The session emphasized the importance of using Montessori teaching aids to develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.

Key teaching aids discussed include:

1. Number Rods: These are used to help children visualize and understand the relationship between quantities and numbers.

2. Number Cards: These cards are essential for associating numerical symbols with their corresponding quantities.

3. Sandpaper Numbers: These tactile numbers are used extensively as they allow children to trace and develop a neuro-muscular memory of numbers, aiding in their recognition and recall.

4. Spindle Box: Introduced as an effective teaching tool, the spindle box helps children visually identify written numbers and match loose quantities of spindles to corresponding numbers on the board.

5. Golden Beads: These beads, used in conjunction with the hierarchy mat, teach children about the names and values of powers of ten, thereby fostering an understanding of place value.

6. Short Bead Stairs with Series Card: This tool is specifically designed to teach subtraction by helping children understand the concept of taking away in a hands-on, visual manner.

These Montessori teaching aids provide children with a concrete understanding of mathematical concepts, allowing them to grasp abstract ideas through tangible experiences. The use of such aids ensures that foundational math skills are developed in an engaging and effective manner, enabling children to build a solid base for future learning.

The session highlighted how these resources, when used effectively, contribute significantly to a child's early math education, ensuring that they learn in an interactive, sensory-rich environment.