How is maths taught in Montessori?
In Montessori, maths is taught through concrete materials before symbols: children handle number rods, spindle boxes, golden beads and stamp games to understand quantity, place value and operations, then match these to numerals and finally work abstractly. The sequence moves from 1–10, through the decimal system, to the four operations.
What this means in practice
Sensorial work prepares maths indirectly; the pink tower and red rods are already based on tens.
Montessori maths sequence (3–6)
- Numbers 1–10: number rods, sandpaper numerals, spindle boxes, cards and counters
- Decimal system: golden beads, bank game
- Teens and tens: Seguin boards, bead stair
- Linear counting: hundred and thousand chains
- Memorisation: addition and subtraction strip boards
- Abstraction: stamp game, dot game
Concrete to abstract
Children move to paper only when they understand quantities physically.
Practical next steps
- Start with number rods.
- Link quantity and numeral.
- Introduce golden beads.
- Move to abstraction slowly.
ExampleAbeni adds 1,234 + 2,345 using golden beads before she ever writes it on paper.
What to keep in mind
Rushing to worksheets undermines understanding.
Common follow-up questions
When does maths start?
Usually about age 4.
Do children learn multiplication?
Many do concretely by 6.
Sources
- Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)
- Lillard et al. (2017), Montessori preschool elevates and equalizes child outcomes, Frontiers in Psychology
Examples are educational illustrations with made-up names. How these answers are prepared.