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My kids are ready for multiplication! I can't believe it! It's amazing how time flies. To be completely honest, multiplication activities have been on our learning shelves before. I've just never used the Montessori materials for teaching multiplication. This year, we're bringing them out!
One reason for not doing so sooner is that the multiplication materials seemed just a little intimidating. I didn't know their sequence, and honestly had no clue how many there were, let alone how to use them. So I did some research and a lot of studying. A special thanks to Seemi from Trillium Montessori, Bess from Grace and Green Pastures and Lolly from Elementary Observations for answering my questions and pointing me in the right direction in regards to resources.
For those wondering just how multiplication is taught the Montessori way, here's an introduction to everything you need to know.
Multiplication is first introduced using the Golden Bead Material in preschool. Yes, you heard me right, in preschool. A Montessori preschool classroom includes children ages 3-6. The picture above shows a Montessori Introduction to Decimal Quantity with TrayOnce multiplication has been introduced and understood using the Golden Bead Material, you're ready to start skip counting using the Montessori Complete Bead Material. Now, I need to confess, I do not own the large and small bead chains. I will one day, but not yet. So in the mean time, I improvise. There are many bead material options, when it comes to having enough bead bars on hand to do skip counting work. I use the Montessori Checker Board Beads. The beads, paired with the ten bars from the golden bead material work beautifully. You'll have more than enough beads to work with, and will use them for future Montessori multiplication activities.
The Montessori Multiplication Bead Board
The Montessori Small Bead Frame
You may wonder why so many different materials? The goal is to help the child through the passage of abstraction. Notice how the materials gradually move away from individual numerals towards more complicated math concepts.
The Montessori Checker Board may just be my favorite multiplication material and is introduced after the large bead frame. Combine it with the Montessori Checker Board Beads
Finally, children practice their multiplication skills using the Montessori Bank Game
Now, this post contains a lot of information, and trust me, this is just a basic introduction to the materials, sequence and scope of Montessori multiplication. There is so much to learn, especially as materials can be used in more than one way. Thankfully, youtube provides fabulous video tutorials that are available to everyone, after reading all of the information and resources here. I know for certain that there is a video presentation of every material in this post. And yes, I've watched them all.
Don't let Montessori multiplication materials intimidate you. I regret not having used them sooner with my own children.
If you're looking for other multiplication activities and printable to supplement your studies, be sure to visit the features in this week's Learn & Play Link Up!
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I always find these manipulatives look so inviting! Who wouldn't want to play with them?
ReplyDeleteI love Montessori Math, it works so well for us!
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to get that checkerboard for the longest time, still contemplating though. But we do love math!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful Montessori math resource with lots of information. Thank you for putting all this information together into one spot.
ReplyDeleteI love how the multiplication is broken down and I think my son is ready for skip counting. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post!
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I like to do different - I get the "decanomial bead bar box" and use that for literally everything that requires bead bars - it has more than enough for the multiplication checkerboard and the decimal multiplication checkerboard, doing multiplication lay-outs, doing most of the decanomial square (still needs more 10-bars which I pull from the golden beads) - and I can't remember what all else ;) Oh! Snake games (and add in just the needed extra bars in other colors).
I LOVE Montessori math!