Barbara Isaacs describes ways in which numeracy can be promoted
in and outside the nursery… Recent research identified
children’s ability to recognise quantity soon after birth.
Montessori also acknowledged these unique qualities by speaking
about the child being born with a ‘mathematical mind’
(Montessori, 2007). By this she meant that as children mature
they develop an ability to match, pair, sort and classify
information and organise it in a logical way. In Montessori
nurseries children explore and learn to identify shapes; they
pair sound cylinders, sort natural materials, such as shells,
pebbles, conkers, according to size or texture. They also
develop grading skills when using activities such as the colour
tablets. They are introduced to 1:1 correspondence when matching
cylinders with appropriate sockets in the cylinder block, and
also explore length, weight and size through their play. When
they’re ready and show interest, children are introduced to
counting with the help of number rods and sandpaper n