(1334) COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE USE OF TRADITIONAL APPROACH AND MONTESSORI METHOD IN TEACHING NUMERACY IN EARLY YEARS

摘要

Mathematics has always been a great challenge to learners, maybe because it is taught as abstractfrom early years. On the other hand, the Montessori Method uses the hands-on approach in teachingnumeracy from early years. This study therefore compared the traditional approach and theMontessori Method in the teaching of numeracy in selected public schools in Delta North SenatorialDistrict. Two schools and four classes were purposively selected in Ika South, of Delta NorthSenatorial District. Twenty five pupils each were selected for the Montessori and TraditionalApproaches in each school. At the end of the study, the children in the Montessori class performedbetter on the numeracy test than those taught with the traditional approach. It was concluded thathands-on approach enhances understanding of numeracy from early years. It was thereforerecommended that the teachers in the schools in Delta State should be retrained on the use of hands--on activities in the teaching of numeracy in early years.