How to Use the Montessori Method to Teach Addition

The Montessori philosophy can be applied to teaching some complex concepts to young children including reading, math and geography. Basic addition is one of the easiest lessons to start with once a child has an understanding of numbers having a specific quantity attached to them. There is no minimum age for this, but you must make sure the child is ready to learn.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Index cards
• Beads, two different colors
• Piece of paper or poster board
• Black marker
• Half sheet of paper
• Sharpened pencil

Steps for Preparation

1. Verify that the child can count, write and recognize numbers up to ten.
2. Write addition problems clearly on index cards written out as "x + y =" where the sum does not exceed ten. These can include equations with zeros and equations where the numbers are flipped, so "0 + 1 =" and "1 + 0 =" are two different cards.
3. Purchase two different color beads that are the same shape and size, red and blue are the standard. Make sure that these are easily picked up by the child and will not roll away when placed on a flat surface.
4. Craft an addition board by drawing a circle, about three inches in diameter on the left side of a piece of paper or small piece of poster board. With a black marker draw a "+" sign, followed by a second circle the same size as the first, then an "=" sign and a third circle.
5. Create a worksheet for the child which has five squares across that are large enough for the child to write each part of the equation in a box. Put at least five sets of five boxes on a half sheet of paper. These can be used for other math equations later.

Steps for Teaching Addition

6. Find a quiet area with a flat space to work with enough room for you and the child to be sitting beside each other.
7. Set out the addition board, the beads already sorted by color, a stack of the index cards, a worksheet and a pencil.
8. Model for the child by taking the first index card, reading the equation out loud and copying the equation onto the worksheet.
9. Create the equation on the addition board using one color bead in the first circle and the other color bead in the second circle. You would have two red beads in the first circle and three blue beads in the second circle, if the equation was "2 + 3 =".
10. Move all the beads into the third circle on the right-hand side of the "=" and count them.
11. Write the sum in the correct box on the work sheet.
12. Repeat with the child doing more of the work each time. Be sure to say out loud what you are doing each time.

Tips & Warnings

• Laminating the addition board will help it last longer.
• Have these addition materials and all math materials available to your child, so that it is an activity for her to return to often.
• By making another board and more cards, you can teach a child subtraction in a similar manor.
• Do not tell a child they are wrong, this goes against Montessori philosophy. Next time that equation comes up, be sure to do it with the child. If you see a mistake in the making, ask the child a question to help correct the problem.