The Bead Cabinet and How to Grow Your Child's Number Sense At Home
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“In our work, therefore, we have given a name to this part of the mind which is built up by exactitude, we call it the ‘mathematical mind.’”
– Dr. Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
One of the most eye-catching Montessori materials is a math material called The Bead Cabinet. It stands tall and proud in Montessori classrooms, filled with enticing colorful beads. The Bead Cabinet provides children with many opportunities to develop their number sense such as, practicing linear counting, number recognition, skip counting, squaring, and cubing! This work also inspires children to feel proud of their accomplishments as they work their way through mastering each squaring and cubing chain. The other day, one of our kindergarteners chatted me up about his progress with The Bead Cabinet. He proudly informed me that he made it all the way to the 7 chain and that one day soon he would be ready to take on the ten chain, which is the longest and most challenging of all. It was a special moment to observe a child taking note of their own progress and expressing confidence in their math skills.
Parents have so many opportunities to support their child's number sense development at home. From modeling counting and 1:1 correspondence, to teaching about money and budgeting, math is always a part of our daily life! Please enjoy the attached article to learn more about The Bead Cabinet and ways to support your child's mathematical mind at home.
