Montessori Preschool Math Materials: The Spindle Box and Numbers and Counters

This year long series looks at the experiences of teachers, parents, students, and Montessori education itself, as we follow a student through his first year at a Montessori Preschool. The Montessori Insights and Reflections of a Preschool Student’s First Year is a collection of useful stories, tips, and information that have arisen from one real student's Montessori journey.

Jordan’s Experience with Numbers and Counters
Jordan has grown leaps and bounds since he began Montessori preschool/kindergarten in September, and it is interesting to reflect back on his journey. Once Jordan had mastered the Number Rods and could correctly pair each rod together with the corresponding numeral, I introduced him to the Spindle Box. The numbers on the box are fixed yet the quantity is free moving, which definitely provided a greater challenge.

Montessori Upper Elementary Practical Life: Outdoor Activities

One Monday morning, my upper elementary Montessori students arrived at school surprised to see a huge, steaming mountain of mulch that had been delivered over the weekend. “Miss Michelle! Miss Michelle! Have you seen the mulch?” I laughed and said in fact, I had. “Are we going to spread it? When can we start?” They were so excited! We, of course, got busy right away.

That morning our circle time consisted of a few enterprising student leaders creating a plan and dividing the rest of the Montessori class into groups to share the workload. Students made lists of tools and equipment we would need, with some contacting parents to bring what it seemed we were lacking. They assigned people to work in different areas of the schoolyard. It seemed everyone wanted to push the wheelbarrows, so a chart was made for students to sign up to take turns. It was decided that the ‘workers’ would need refreshments, so a group of students quickly rallied to make yummy snacks in our kitchen.

Montessori Upper Elementary Practical Life: Indoor Activities

I remember walking into my first upper elementary Montessori classroom. The director showed me around my new classroom, pointing out the Montessori materials on the shelves. It was a beautiful environment with an entire wall of windows. Before she left, I asked the director where the Practical Life shelves where. Her response? “Upper elementary children don’t need Practical Life activities”.

Not need Practical Life activities? How can that be? I started thinking about my Montessori training. The purpose of Montessori Practical Life Activities is to develop the skills needed to be an independent adult and lead a happy and fulfilled life. Were my 9-12 year olds fully independent adults? Certainly not! I decided to add a Practical Life section to my upper elementary classroom right away.

Montessori Upper Elementary Practical Life: Going Out - Trip Ideas, Planning, and Overnight Excursions

One of my favorite questions in my upper elementary Montessori classroom is “Miss Michelle, can we go to…?” I usually respond with “Give me a full prospectus telling me why we should go and the logistics of getting there and back”. And off they go to research and write a report.

Now, if the word “prospectus” seems a bit too esoteric, consider this: Montessori Practical Life activities are meant to teach adult life skills. What better way to develop the ability to plan a project or trip than to do it in a safe, nurturing Montessori environment?

Montessori uses“going out” trips to experience the real world, not that which is confined to the four walls of the classroom, as well as to acquire ‘culture’.

The Montessori Number Rods: Helping Preschool Students Visualize and Connect Mathematical Concepts

This year long series looks at the experiences of teachers, parents, students, and Montessori education itself, as we follow a student through his first year at a Montessori Preschool. The Montessori Insights and Reflections of a Preschool Student’s First Year is a collection of useful stories, tips, and information that has arisen from one real student's Montessori journey.

Jordan and the Number Rods
When Jordan first began preschool, he was able to recognize numbers 1 through 5, but had not yet grasped the quantity associated with each number. He could count on his own, but struggled with counting the actual quantities. He had a tendency to count much too quickly and of course that is often when errors were made.

The Montessori Number Rods were instrumental in helping Jordan learn to slow down and really understand each individual quantity.

A Guide to Montessori Preschool Math: Materials and Curriculum Explained

This year long series looks at the experiences of teachers, parents, students, and Montessori education itself, as we follow a student through his first year at a Montessori Preschool. The Montessori Insights and Reflections of a Preschool Student’s First Year is a collection of useful stories, tips, and information that has arisen from one real student's Montessori journey.

An Overview of Montessori Math Curriculum
Recently I have had several requests to provide a brief overview of the Montessori Math curriculum. I have done my best to simplify the curriculum below, but there is just so much information to cover!

Montessori Preschool Math - Montessori Materials Make the Difference With Advanced Concepts!

There is something so profound about walking into a Montessori environment and seeing children as young as three, four and five years old working with advanced Math concepts and truly understanding what they are doing. The Montessori Materials really do make concepts come to life for children. Concepts that seem daunting and abstract become so simple and fun in a Montessori environment. The materials are beautiful and intriguing and I have seen year after year how they inspire young learners.

I love the fact that the Montessori Math curriculum is so systematic. The lessons build sequentially on previous learning, they are self-correcting, they introduce concrete learning before abstract learning, and they isolate the difficulty being learned.