Printed Numerals: US Version
The US version of the printed numerals: wooden tablets, one to ten, printed in red, laid beside the Number Rods so that the symbol meets the quantity it stands for. Which version you want is a question about the numeral shapes a child will meet everywhere else, in their own books and on their own street signs, and matching that is the entire reason two versions exist. The international version is a separate item, and so are the Number Rods. Wood.
“Children display a universal love of mathematics, which is par excellence the science of precision, order, and intelligence.”
The Printed Numerals tiles transform abstract mathematical symbols into tangible objects children can manipulate and arrange.
- Recognition of numerals 0-9 through visual and tactile exploration
- Association between quantity and abstract number symbols
- Sequential ordering and number patterns from 0-9
- Fine motor control through precise tile placement
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Each 5cm wooden square isolates a single red numeral, allowing focused attention on the form and meaning of digits 0-9. In Montessori mathematics, these wooden tiles serve as the critical bridge between concrete quantity work and abstract number concepts. When children first encounter printed numerals after extensive work with golden beads and number rods, they need a material that makes symbols as real as the quantities they represent. The smooth wood surface invites touch, while the bold red ink creates visual clarity against natural grain. By handling individual numeral tiles, children internalize the shapes through muscle memory while building number sequences on their work mat. This tactile approach to numeral recognition respects the child's need to learn through movement and sensorial exploration before advancing to pencil and paper mathematics.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the numeral tiles in a small basket on the mathematics shelf. Prepare a work mat in a quiet area with good lighting.
- 1
Invite the child to bring the basket to the mat. Remove tiles one at a time, naming each numeral clearly
Trace each numeral with two fingers before placing it on the mat - 2
Arrange tiles in sequence from 0-9 horizontally across the mat
Leave equal spacing between tiles to emphasize each as a distinct symbol - 3
Play the three-period lesson: 'This is 3,' 'Show me 3,' 'What is this?'
Focus on 2-3 numerals per lesson to avoid overwhelming the child - 4
Mix the tiles and invite the child to sequence them independently
Observe without correcting - let the child self-discover errors
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
Brands used by
schools worldwide
European brands
AMI
Endorsed
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