Teen Boards: International Version (Nienhuis)
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
Boards for the numbers eleven to nineteen, where a child slides a numeral over the ten to make each teen. English hides what is happening here, since fourteen does not sound like ten and four, but the board shows it: the ten stays put and only the unit changes. Quantities are built alongside from ten bars and the coloured bead stair in the teen bead box, so symbol and quantity arrive together. This is the step between counting to ten and counting past it. Two boards and nine wooden cards in a lidded wooden box. Wood, for ages 3 to 6.
“The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.'”
The Teen Boards serve as a concrete bridge between the child's understanding of single digits and the decimal system.
- Recognition and formation of numbers 11-19
- Understanding of place value and the decimal system
- Development of sequential counting beyond 10
- Connection between spoken number names and written symbols
Read More
Through manipulating removable number tiles within recessed compartments, children physically construct teen numbers, making abstract mathematical concepts tangible. The wooden boards' precise design allows children to see how placing a '1' tile beside single digits creates numbers 11-19, revealing the pattern of our decimal system. This systematic building process through the Teen Boards satisfies the young child's need to understand numerical relationships through sensorial exploration. The boards' structured presentation moves from concrete manipulation to abstract understanding, following the child's natural progression in mathematical thinking. By physically creating teen numbers with the removable tiles, children internalize place value concepts before encountering them abstractly. The Teen Boards provide repeated practice with number formation while maintaining the child's interest through hands-on activity.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place both Teen Boards on the work mat. Set the box of loose number tiles (1-9) to the right. Ensure the '10' is visible on each board slot.
- 1
Introduce the first board showing 10. Say 'ten' while pointing
Use slow, clear pronunciation for number names - 2
Take the '1' tile and slide it over the zero of the first 10, creating 11
Let the child see the transformation happen slowly - 3
Continue building 12-19 sequentially, naming each number
Pause between numbers to allow processing time - 4
Invite the child to remove tiles and rebuild numbers independently
Observe which numbers they form confidently - 5
Practice three-period lesson with selected teen numbers
Start with contrasting numbers like 11, 15, 18
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
In classrooms
Around the world
European brands
Nienhuis, GAM, Educo
AMI approved
To the association standard
Teen Boards: International Version (Nienhuis)
