More Montessori Math! The CHECKERBOARD

October 31, 2022

Dear Maria,

My child tells me their favorite thing to do at school is the checkerboard. It’s great that Montessori mixes work and play and has students choose activities on their own initiative, but I’m wondering about this choice of material. Can you help?

Sincerely,

Wondering

This picture shows a step in the problem 45,763 x 37 = 1,693,231

Dear Wondering,

Your child is working on the Montessori checkerboard, an impressive material that helps them along the path to abstraction for long multiplication. Like many other Montessori materials, it is a visual representation of an abstract concept. What’s amazing is that young children, even if they are still foggy on their multiplication facts and don’t have a solid grip of place value, can begin work with these materials. The more they work with it, practicing on their own and receiving subsequent presentations from their guides when ready, the more they hone their math facts and gain a deep understanding of place value and the mechanics of long multiplication. Usually, they effortlessly learn the long multiplication algorithm after using this material. Montessori math materials aim to show children the actual workings of algorithms, instead of resorting to rote memorization. Read more about this fabulous math material on Hudson Montessori School’s blog.

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What are Going Outs?

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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.)