STAIRCASES
Mental Agility
It is important that children never associate a rod with a particular number.
The rods are not a cumbersome calculating tool. They represent a complete arithmetical model designed to free them to think in abstract terms.
This is important for later work, for example, with fractions and graphs.
One way of doing this is getting children to visualize a staircase and name the rods going up and going down.
In this way, depending on whether the child has built the complete staircase or not , red will be viewed as ‘step 2, going up and ‘step 9’ going down.
Later, once children are introduced to the ‘number names’ of the rods, play RELATIONSHIP GAMES to help increase your child’s mental agility.
The early concept of FRACTIONS – the idea that numbers exist between ‘while numbers’ – can be introduced using this approach.
Because children have experienced pleasure in using the rods creatively during FREE PLAY they will always adopt a positive attitude to the introduction of new concepts. The material is familiar and associated with positive experiences.
Learning is fun!
Make staircases using the first five colors and ask children to visualize then ‘read’ them going up and down.
Increase the challenge as children get more adept.
e g the first six, seven rods etc.
Remember the ‘flow state’.
RELATIONSHIP GAMES
Play these games regularly once children have been introduced to the ‘number names’ of the rods.
Choose different rods to represent one.
