Mathematics

The Montessori approach to teaching Math effects Dr. Montessori's background in science and emphasizes accuracy, precision and clarity.  Math is presented in a simple and direct way that greatly enhances comprehension.  After learning the fundamentals of mathematics using the Montessori apparatus described below, the children build on those fundamentals applying Montessori principles to more traditional approaches to learning.

 

Math activities include colors beads and a strip board to introduce simple addition and the negative strip board to introduce subtraction.  Among other apparatus, the abacus frame is used to teach the fundamentals of simple and complex addition, subtraction multiplication and division.

 

Chains of colored beads are used to learn skip counting and a long golden bead chain is used to teach linear counting from one to one thousand.  Multiplication is taught on a square board with one hundred tiny holes and red beads.  Children then proceed with great enthusiasm to learn division using a similar board with green beads and skittles.

 

Fractions are introduced using sets of divided red metal circles that resemble a sliced "Pie".  The child manipulates the apparatus to learn basic concepts.  The child then moves on to equivalent and improper fractions, lowest-term fractions and conversion from fractions to decimals.  Ratios, percentages, estimating, integers, probability, statistics, data, graphing, and word problems are all part of our program.

 

We also include geometry with the study of points, lines and angles in our curriculum.  Space geometry introduces line relationships in space, polyhedrons and cross-sections.  Coordinate geometry introduces graphing geometric figures, translating figures, reflections, and graphing similar figures.

 

Finally, centimeters, millimeters, meters and kilometers, the radius and diameter of a circle, the perimeters of various shapes and concepts of length and distance are studied.