Montessori Cylinder Blocks (Photo by Jess Liotta and Colin Liotta)

An important Montessori principle is control of error in the materials to give the child instant feedback. Traditional Montessori materials have a built-in control of error, but it especially helps to focus on the concept if you use DIY Montessori materials or alternatives.

Control of Error in Traditional Montessori Materials

My daughter, Christina, at age 1½ working with a Montessori cylinder block, 1992.

A traditional Montessori material has a control of error or way for the child to check his or her own work. There are a number of benefits, including help with the child’s ability to analyze and solve problems. Control of error in the materials also aids the child’s independence, self-esteem, and self-discipline.

The Montessori cylinder block is a great example of Montessori control of error. A child will not be able to fit all the cylinders properly into a cylinder block (or a set of four cylinder blocks) if one cylinder is out of place. You’ll find an introduction to Montessori principles in this post: Become a More Successful Homeschooler By Using Montessori Principles.

Examples of Control of Error in DIY Montessori Materials

DIY Sound Cylinders (Photo from Kingdom of the Pink Princesses)

Kingdom of the Pink Princesses used red and blue cardstock to make lids for DIY sound cylinders from chocolate pudding containers. Matching color-coding dots were added to the bottoms of the matching containers as a control of error so the child can check that the cylinders are matched correctly. (Note: Here are more examples of DIY Montessori sound cylinders.)

DIY Smelling Bottles (Photo from Counting Coconuts)

Counting Coconuts has DIY smelling bottles with blue stars on the lids of half the bottles and red stars on the lids of the other half. Then Counting Coconuts used a permanent marker to create a control of error by marking the bottoms of the bottles with dots. The two peppermint scented bottles each have one dot, the two vanilla scented bottles each have two dots, etc. (Note: Here are more examples of DIY Montessori smelling bottles.)

Outdoor cards and counters for 1-10 would have exactly 55 pine cones as a control of error.

With DIY cards and counters for the numbers 1-10, there are exactly 55 counters as a control of error. There will be too few or too many counters at the end if the child makes a mistake. (Note: Here you’ll find the link to this post and other examples of DIY Cards and Counters.)

Examples of Control of Error in Montessori-Inspired Activities using Printables

When you’re using printables to create Montessori-inspired activities, it’s very helpful to add a control of error whenever possible.

Geometric Solids Sorting Cards Laid Out (Photo from To the Lesson!)

Backs of Geometric Solids Sorting Cards Showing Control of Error (Photo from To the Lesson!)

In New Life for Our Geometric Solids, To the Lesson! uses color-coding dots as a control of error so the child will know the cards are matched correctly. (Note: Here are lots of examples of Inexpensive and DIY Geometric Solids and Extensions)

The Seasons Come and Go from To the Lesson! has an activity with control of error in color-coordinated cards and ribbon.

1 Fish 2 Fish Counting Tray

In my Montessori-inspired One Fish, Two Fish Math Activities (my February 15 post at PreK + K Sharing), there are 21 Goldfish for the 1 Fish 2 Fish Activity (exactly enough Goldfish for each of the goldfish bowls).

Montessori-Inspired April Showers Phonics Activity

I often color-coordinate the materials on a tray with the color of the tray (unless it’s a plain wooden tray). That makes it easier for the child to return materials to the correct tray. In my Montessori-Inspired April Showers Activities (my April 15 post at PreK + K Sharing), I added a blue color-coding dot to the back of each phonics card to correlate with the correct position of the clothespin, creating a control of error. When the child turns over each card at the end, the card’s dot should be covered with a clothespin.

Have you added a control of error to materials you’ve created?

Photo at top of post by Jess Liotta and Colin Liotta at Flickr Creative Commons.

Montessori Monday Link-Up

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