Developing a Mathematical Mind

...... Often in this world, students learn math by rote, without any real understanding or ability to put their skills to use in everyday life. Learning comes much more easily when they work with concrete educational materials that graphically show what is taking place in a given mathematical process.

In Montessori, we use hands-on learning materials that make abstract concepts clear and concrete. Students can literally see and explore what is going on. Our approach to teaching Mathematics is based on the research of Drs. Maria Montessori and Jean Piaget. It offers a clear and logical strategy for helping students both understand and develop a sound foundation in mathematics and geometry.

As an example, consider the very basis of Mathematics: the decimal system; units, tens, hundreds and thousands. Since quantities larger than twenty rarely have any meaning to a young child, Dr. Montessori reasoned that we should present this abstract concept graphically. Children cannot normally conceive of the size of a hundred, thousand or million; much less the idea that a thousand is equal to ten hundreds or one hundred tens.

Montessori overcame this obstacle by developing a concrete representation of the decimal system. Units are represented by single one centimeter beads; a unit of ten is made up of a bar of ten beads strung together; hundreds are squares made up of ten ten-bars; and thousands are cubes made up of ten hundred-squares.

Together, they form a visually and intellectually impressive tool for learning. Great numbers can be formed by very young children. “Please bring me three thousands, five hundreds, six tens and one unit.”

From this foundation, all of the operations in Mathematics, such as the addition of quantities into the thousands, become clear and concrete allowing the child to internalize a clear image of how the process works.

Montessori mathematics climbs in sophistication through the higher levels. It includes a careful study of the practical application of mathematics in everyday life, such as measurement, handling finances, making economic comparisons, or in gathering data and statistical analyses.

Practical economics is another important element in our curriculum. One of our early lessons is how to use money and calculate change in a store. Students learn to recognize the value of a dollar: how long it takes to earn it, and what it can buy.

As they grow older, students learn how to compute the cost of a meal for their family, plan a weekly budget, maintain a checkbook, invest in the financial markets, and understand how to use credit cards wisely.