How to Use Montessori Tactile Numbers

This is a complete set of tactile numbers.

Montessori tactile numbers are green cards with the numbers 1 through 10 mounted on them. The numbers should be cut out of the finest sandpaper and fully secured to the cards. Tactile numbers are used to familiarize students with the names and appearances of the numbers while also preparing them to begin writing them. This lesson incorporates the senses sight, touch and sound.

Things You'll Need

• Montessori tactile numbers set

Instructions

1. 

   Introduce the numbers 1 and 2. The teacher and student should sit together with the numerals 1 and 2 in front of them. The teacher will use her index and middle fingers to lightly trace the number one in front of the child. As she traces, she should say, "One. This is one. This is the way we write one." The student does not have to say the number's name, but he likely will at this point. You should do the same thing for 2.

2. Practice recognition with 1 and 2. You can do this by placing both numbers in front of the child, then asking her to trace 2, then touch 1 and vice versa. Once the child is very clear on each number's identity, you can move on.

3. Give the child a number card and ask her to tell you the number's name while tracing it. At first, you will only use the 1 and 2 cards since these are the cards that have been introduced.

4. Review the numbers learned. You should place the numbers in sequence from right to left in front of the child. Then say, "Today we learned how to write the numbers 1 and 2."

5. Continue this process over subsequent days until the child knows all 10 numbers. You can add two or three each day as long as the student appears comfortable. Always add on numbers, so that the next lesson will cover 1, 2, 3 and 4, for example.

6. Encourage the child to practice the lesson on his own. The tactile numbers should be kept in a box where the child can access them. He can practice the entire lesson of feeling the numbers and saying the names with any numbers that he has already been taught and look at the others as much as he likes.

Tips & Warnings

• Montessori lessons are often broken down into extremely small increments in order to prepare children for later lessons in many different areas. If you are unclear about what your child is learning in a given lesson, as her instructor so that she can clarify lesson intentions and goals.