Montessori mathematics is broken into five categories:
- Understanding of the numerals
- Understanding of the decimal system
- Linear counting
- Four operations
- Process of abstraction
This breakdown leads the children from the most basic concept to the most difficult concepts. Beginning with numeration, the children become familiar with numbers from simple recognition to forming quantities. Once they understand numerals, they are ready to move on to the decimal system: understanding ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands. The children then move onto linear counting. Here they learn to form numbers and explore all aspects of them. In the four operations, the children learn to remember all the different combinations of adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Once the children have mastered these concepts, they are ready to work mathematics in their head and apply the knowledge to problems. Mathematics is very alive and active in the Montessori classroom.
