Long before students move to the advanced abstract work of mathematics, they need to develop the language of math and to establish a firm foundation of numbers. More than just learning to count, children need to see, touch, and feel the concept of ‘number’ before they can begin to manipulate these concepts in their minds. 

Montessori math materials provide students the opportunity to experience mathematical principles concretely.  Dr. Montessori developed materials to assist students being introduced to concepts such as counting, basic addition, long division and even cubing quadrinomials.

Children in the Young Children’s Community encounter a number of activities that set the stage for mathematics such as sorting and counting, beginning their first introduction to the language of Mathematics.

In the Children’s House, students delve deeper into this language with materials designed to reinforce the written symbols we give to number, the words that accompany them, and the quantity they represent.

Once students master a concept using materials, they move on to abstract computations, but with an understanding of the underlying principles that goes far beyond what might come from a traditional math lesson.

With brightly colored beads, manipulative computation boards, and the joy that comes with true understanding, it is not unusual for a student to list a math work as one of her favorites.