Concrete to Abstract in Maths

The Montessori sequence for maths follows a clear path: 1. **Concrete** — the child handles physical objects (rods, beads, spindles). 2. **Pictorial** — the child sees representations on paper. 3. **Abstract** — the child manipulates the symbols alone. This **concrete-to-abstract** progression is the secret of Montessori maths. By the time a child writes "4 + 3 = 7" on paper, they have already built that quantity dozens of times with their hands. The symbol is not an arbitrary squiggle — it is the label for something deeply known.