What does the introduction of the 'Teen board' serve in mathematics education?

The introduction of the 'Teen board' plays a crucial role in mathematics education, particularly in the Montessori method, as it supports the teaching of counting and numerical recognition. This material is designed to help children understand the connection between numerals and quantities, particularly for numbers in the teen range.

The structure of the 'Teen board' allows children to visualize the composition of teen numbers (10-19) by breaking them down into tens and units. For example, when a child sees the representation of the number 13, they can physically manipulate the pieces to see that it is made of one ten and three units. This hands-on, sensory engagement helps solidify their understanding of how numbers are structured and promotes counting skills as children learn to recognize and express these numbers verbally and visually.

By incorporating the 'Teen board' into lessons, educators create an environment that fosters exploration and discovery, enabling students to gain confidence in their counting abilities and numerical recognition specific to the characteristics of numbers in the teen range. This foundational understanding is essential as they progress to more complex mathematical concepts.