Blog Layout
What are bead chains? Are they jewelry? #confused
October 4, 2021
Nope, not jewelry! But these colorful materials are beautifully designed to catch children’s eye, like all Montessori materials! The bead chains are a set of shorter and longer chains of beads with repeated groups of the numbers 1 thought 10. They can be found in most Montessori classrooms, and are part of the bead cabinet, which is used in different ways in Primary, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary to strengthen number sense in developmentally appropriate ways.
The bead cabinet is a perfect example of a material which indirectly prepares children at a young age for higher abstract work when they are older. In Primary, children have lessons on using the bead chains for counting and skip-counting. In Lower Elementary, children use the bead chains to find multiples, common multiples, and learn about the concept and value of squares and cubes of numbers.
Still later, in Upper El, children will relate their knowledge of squares and cubes (that all started with the bead cabinet) to work more abstractly, calculating with squares and cubes and even finding square and cube roots!
Montessori materials are aids to abstraction, as they bring abstract concepts to children in a concrete way.
Dear Maria, Winterfest is coming up. What place do music, drama, and dance have in the Montessori classroom? Sincerely, Curious
Dear Maria, What are “Going Outs”? How do they help our children learn? Can I help? Sincerely, Cascadia parent Dear Cascadia parent, Going Outs are a key piece of the Montessori elementary experience. A Going Out is a child-led outing from the classroom and can take various forms. Children might go on an errand for the class community or for supplies for a special project (cooking, baking, arts & crafts, special experiment, etc.). They might go and see something in-person that they’ve been researching in class. Going to see a native animal or plant in its natural ecosystem, visiting the zoo to observe an animal, picking up books at the public library or visiting an expert to talk more about a topic or see a special demonstration might all be research-related going outs. The possibilities are endless and limited only to the child’s imagination…and to practicalities, because a vital part of Going Outs is that the children organize everything themselves! They’re responsible for organizing chaperones, transportation, necessary things to bring along, and getting an appointment or tickets if necessary. Going Outs are a huge part of how Elementary children learn about the world and practice independence! Many skills are involved in planning a Going Out, including map reading, learning about money, distance, time management, organizing a group, preparing practical items (using forethought to prepare for weather or unexpected events), and much more! Of course with the youngest children, your child’s guide and assistant will give lessons on Going Outs or assist them with planning their first trips. Young children might be invited to go along with an older and more experienced child and learn the process that way. Guides have established Going Out procedures to aid children in taking on this responsibility for themselves. (Part of these procedures involve notifying Susan in the office and parents & guardians about the going out date, time, and location, so don’t be worried about your child leaving campus without your knowledge.)
Dear Maria, Why is so much time spent on learning routines and procedures at the beginning of the year? Sincerely, Impatient
Dear Maria, What is Project Showcase? Sincerely, Still a New(ish) Parent!
Dear Maria, What's with the tape on the floor in the hallway?
Dear Maria, How can we support math learning at home? Sincerely, 2 + 2 = 4
Dear Maria, Can you tell me more about what independence might look like in the classroom? Sincerely, Curious
Dear Maria, What are transitions? Sincerely, In the Dark
Dear Maria, Last week you shared with us some current blogs on soil and our health. Can you tell us more about your thoughts on interdependence and interrelationships?
Dear Maria, Have you heard about sustainable agriculture? Sincerely, A CSA member
