My kids are ready for multiplication!  I can't believe it!  It's amazing how time flies.  

To be completely honest, multiplication activities have been on our learning shelves before.  

I've just never used the Montessori materials for teaching multiplication.  This year, we're bringing them out!

Montessori multiplication is such a beautiful thing! I love all of the manipulatives, the visuals, and step-by-step processes!

Learning the Montessori Way: Multiplication

One reason for not introducing Montessori multiplication sooner is that the Montessori multiplication materials seemed just a little intimidating.  

I didn't know their sequence, and honestly had no clue how many there were, let alone how to use them.  So I did some research and a lot of studying.  

A special thanks to Seemi from Trillium Montessori, Bess from Grace and Green Pastures and Lolly from Elementary Observations for answering my questions and pointing me in the right direction in regards to resources.

For those wondering just how multiplication is taught the Montessori way, here's an introduction to everything you need to know.

Montessori Multiplication: Materials & Lessons

Multiplication is first introduced using the Golden Bead Material in preschool.  Yes, you heard me right, in preschool.  A Montessori preschool classroom includes children ages 3-6.  

The picture above shows a Montessori Introduction to Decimal Quantity with Tray, to show you what the bead material looks like.  However you will need at least 9 thousand cubes, 9 hundred squares, 9 ten bars, and 9 units.  

For instructions and visuals on how to present multiplication using the Golden Bead Material visit Montessori World.

Once multiplication has been introduced and understood using the Golden Bead Material, you're ready to start skip counting using the Montessori Complete Bead Material.  

Now, I need to confess, I do not own the large and small bead chains. I will one day, but not yet.  

So in the mean time, I improvise.  There are many bead material options, when it comes to having enough bead bars on hand to do skip counting work.  

I use the Montessori Checker Board Beads.  The beads, paired with the ten bars from the golden bead material work beautifully.  You'll have more than enough beads to work with, and will use them for future Montessori multiplication activities.  

Free tickets/labels for skip counting can be found in my post Montessori-inspired Math Activities using Bead Bars.  

If you need directions and visuals on how to use the materials, I highly recommend visiting the The Pinay Homeschooler.

The Montessori Multiplication Working Charts can be introduced after the skip counting material or simultaneously.  They are a fabulous way to help children learn their multiplication facts.  Visit the Montesssori Album to find directions and free resources for Chart 1 and Chart 2.

The Montessori Multiplication Bead Board is next on the list of materials, and probably the most well known.  

It can be introduced after skip counting and the charts, or it can be introduced simultaneously.  For directions and resources on how to use this material, be sure to visit The Pinay Homeschooler.

The Montessori Stamp Game is introduced as a way to teach static and dynamic multiplication after all previous materials have been presented and mastered.  For directions on how to use the stamp game, visit Carrots Are Orange.  You will note that the post starts out by explaining how to use the stamp game for addition.  It is important to learn this process first, in order to understand how to use the game for multiplication.  The stamp game can also be used later on to teach long multiplication.

The Montessori Small Bead Frame is the last of Montessori multiplication materials in the preschool curriculum.  For directions on how to use it visit the the Montessori Primary Guide.  You'll notice directions for using the small bead frame for addition and subtraction as well.  This material can be used for both static and dynamic multiplication.

Why are there so many different Montessori multiplication materials?  

The goal is to help the child through the passage of abstraction.  

Notice how the materials gradually move away from individual numerals towards more complicated math concepts.

Once a child reaches the early elementary curriculum, and reviews concepts introduced during the preschool years, the Montessori Large Bead Frame is introduced.  

You'll notice this frame provides opportunity to work with numbers up to 9,999,999, as does all of the elementary multiplication materials.  

For a better understanding of how to use the material visit Expedition Montessori.

 

The Montessori Checker Board may just be my favorite multiplication material and is introduced after the large bead frame.  

Combine it with the Montessori Checker Board Beads and number tiles, and you've got yourself an amazing learning activity.  

How do you use it?  

George Family-Montessori At Home gives a great explanation.  Montessori Commons provides great step by step directions.

The Montessori Flat Bead Frame is used for long multiplication and is introduced after the checker board.  

For more information on how to use the material, you can watch this video I found on youtube.  

Finally, children practice their multiplication skills using the Montessori Bank Game after all of the other materials are introduced.  

This varies from the bank game taught in preschool using the golden bead material.  

Unlike other Montessori multiplication activities this game requires that more than one person participate.  

For instructions on how to play with visuals, visit The Learning Ark.

Now, this post contains a lot of information, and trust me, this is just a basic introduction to the materials, sequence and scope of Montessori multiplication.  There is so much to learn, especially as materials can be used in more than one way.  

Thankfully, youtube provides fabulous video tutorials that are available to everyone, after reading all of the information and resources here.  

I know for certain that there is a video presentation of every material in this post.  And yes, I've watched them all.

Don't let Montessori multiplication materials intimidate you.  I regret not having used them sooner with my own children.

Montessori Multiplication: Printables

Over the years, as we've used all of the Montessori math materials, I've created printables to go along with them to make my job as a teacher as easy as possible.

If you're looking for printables that go along with the materials above, to be used on their own, be sure to check out the resources below.

Montessori Multiplication and Skip Counting Bundle

This bundle works beautifully with the Montessori math bead bars or alone if you are unable to obtain Montessori math bead bars.

We love using the Montessori math bead bar nomenclature cards as an added layer of support for our kiddos who struggle in math. The printable helps them feel so confident in their abilities!

What I love most about this bundle is that there are so many different ways to practice Montessori multiplication and skip counting!

Montessori Multiplication and Division Bundle

We have used this bundle for years alongside our Montessori materials. I love having problems already created for the kiddos to work on, rather than having to come up with some on demand.

The cards progress in difficulty, breaking down each and every step of Montessori multiplication, corresponding to materials and the sequence of lessons.

What I love most is that math problems are written using corresponding colors to Montessori materials.

If you're looking for other multiplication activities and printable to supplement your studies, be sure to check out more resources below.

Helping Kids Learn Their Times Tables from Picklebums

Multiples of Numbers from Elementary Observations

Math Times Tables I Spy Game from And Next Comes L

The Montessori Multiplication Board from The Pinay Homeschooler

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