Presented by: Cheryl Heatwole Shenk
The goal of the Montessori math curriculum is to help children understand AND ENJOY math! Maria Montessori developed “materialized abstractions’ like the golden bead materials to help children visually and kinesthetically experience mathematical concepts.
Modern brain research helps us further implement “materialized abstractions” in our math curriculum. We now know that five-month old infants can distinguish quantities up to three, including adding and subtracting them, all without counting
This ability to perceive quantities, called subitizing, needs to be nurtured. With some subtle changes to the Montessori math presentations to incorporate subitizing and visualization skills, we can help children develop better conceptual understanding of numbers and their relationships. All children, and especially those most challenged in math, benefit from acquiring strategies for learning math facts, rather than memorizing through repetition only.
Workshop participants will analyze the Montessori math sequence: the objectives, cognitive strategies, strengths, and weaknesses of the lessons. We will discuss options for both subtle and significant modifications to the Montessori math sequence to enhance our effectiveness for diverse learners. We will also provide instructions and demonstrate several simple strategy-based games that excite children to socially practice math facts and scaffold them toward mastery.
You can attend this workshop and so many others on Saturday, March 4th. Learn more and register below.