By Jean C. Avery
In the Montessori classroom, sensorial materials are very important. Sharpening the senses enables the children to further understand all impressions that they encounter. The sensorial curriculum not only helps the children explore their environment, but also to develop their MATHEMATICAL MIND.
By exploring colors, sounds, taste, textures, and varying size and dimensions, a child will increase his desire to explore his world and constructively categorize all that they encounter. The more refined the information that is received by the brain the finer the distinction the child can make in the future. The sensorial materials are designed to refine the child’s senses to distinguish size, color, texture, weight, temperature, taste, smell, and form.
Sensorial activities also provide the opportunity to discover any deficiencies in sight or hearing. Early detection of problems is beneficial so that remedial work may begin at a young age.
The red rods are a specific example of laying the foundation for the mathematical mind. When a child can distinguish short to long, as demonstrated by mastering the red rods, he is then ready to understand the quantity of one to ten. At this time he/she would begin to explore the number rods and the math journey begins. Practical Life and Sensorial exercises have developed each child’s grasp of digits, (decimals, tens, and hundreds.)
Text & Photography by Jean C. Avery
Dr. Maria Montessori, the founder of the Montessori Method, saw the benefit of this practical application paving the way for abstract thinking, she developed the Montessori Math Curriculum based on experiences of concrete (hands on manipulations) of math learning materials.
There is a general sequence of presentation in the Montessori Math Curriculum:
More advanced math materials include the stamp game, the dot game, bead frames, fraction boards, and other creative extensions of the original Montessori materials.
Children love to work with their hands. Great curiosity naturally draws the attention of the children to the creative and colorful Montessori Practical Life activities. Materials are chosen specifically for developing skills in a safe and well prepared selection of home like and fun activities. Because these materials are meant to resemble everyday activities, it is important that they be familiar, real, and functional. The attractiveness is of utmost importance as Montessori believed that the child must be offered what is most beautiful and pleasing to the eye.
This peer teaching and learning is an intricate part of the Montessori Method. It seems that veteran students are diligent to the cause of a well respected and organized classroom. The good news is that the older students gain great confidence as the leaders and the younger students aspire to do the same. This is one of the greatest secrets of Montessori. Role models in the group are themselves and help to create extraordinary leaders. As they work together in the Montessori environment, a community is born where contribution, not competition, are the standards by which they interact. A Montessori classroom remains student centered. The teacher guides, but is not the focal point of learning. All of this and more actually unfolds as early as the introduction of Practical Life Materials.
The beginning of self-esteem starts with “I can do it myself.” Independence, fine motor skills, listening, and self mastery, are great contributors to confident children. It is their nature and part of their development to “Let me do it myself!” Practical Life at home is a great starting point. Remember how much fun it was to make a cake with an adult? Nothing has changed… the batter tastes the same, personal time together makes a memory, and of course, the cup cakes that you help make by “yourself “are delightful.
