Mathematics is often viewed as a subject to avoid or run away from. Most people find it difficult to link Mathematics to real-life situations and therefore view it as an abstract idea. According to the French Mathematician, Blaise Pascal, all humans are born with mathematical minds. If this is the case, one might wonder why many of today’s children are growing up still struggling with mathematics.
Maria Montessori believed that mathematics learning should be part of the child’s early experience since he is born with a mathematical mind. In her words, “children display a universal love of mathematics which is, par excellence, the science of precision, order, and intelligence.” In line with this, she designed the prepared environment in such a way that other curriculum areas, apart from mathematics, have an element of mathematics. There’s time for everything in the prepared environment, starting from circle time to the three-hour work cycle period; snack time, break time and even closing time. These time periods have to do with mathematics.
