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Case Made for Preschool Math
July 30, 2009
When times are easy and there’s plenty to go around, individual species can go it alone. But when conditions are harsh and life is tenuous, it takes a team sworn to reciprocity to keep life going forward...So say the lichens.
-Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass
-Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass
"...although virtually all young children have the capability to learn and become competent in mathematics, for most the potential to learn mathematics in the early years of school is not currently realized. This stems from a lack of opportunities to learn mathematics either in early childhood settings or through everyday experiences in homes and in communities. This is particularly the case for economically disadvantage children who start out behind in mathematics and will remain so without extensive, high-quality early mathematics instruction. In fact, well before first grade, children can learn the ideas and skills that support later, more complex mathematics understanding....
"Examination of current standards, curricula, and instruction in early childhood education revealed that many early childhood settings do not provide adequate learning experiences in mathematics. The relative lack of high-quality mathematics instruction, especially in comparison to literacy, reflects a lack of attention to mathematics throughout the childhood education systems, including standards, curriculum, instruction, and the preparation and training of the teaching workforce."
This week, one of the most popular Exchange resources, Beginnings Workshops, the 16-page curriculum guides that appear in the center of every issue of Exchange, are on sale at a 20% discount. These guides offer practical advice from the top experts in our field on a wide range of early childhood issues. Included among the Beginnings Workshops are the following ones focusing on language, literacy, math, and science:
- Language and Literacy
- Conversations with Children and Adults
- Storytelling
- Bilingual Education
- Talking
- Building Literacy
- Multi-Language Programs
- Science, Using the Outdoors
- Music and Movement
- Creative Dramatics
- Numbers and Math
- Math and Numbers Part 2
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University of North Dakota
33 Credits. 100% Online. Full or Part-Time Basis.
In-State Tuition Rate for All Online Courses.
NCATE Accredited.
Learn how you can get started for Fall 2009!
http://distance.und.edu/degrees/
Comments (4)
Displaying All 4 CommentsWashington Child Development Council
Washington, DC, United States
The EED on Preschool Math should include examples for teaching preschoolmath - it is not working with written numerals on paper, something I did in first grade and never learned about correspondence until college! Tell about the materials that provide the experiences that math literacy
requires. The two previous comments have nailed this need. At a minimum, the EED should refer the reader to other sites that can assist with this information.
Seattle, WA, United States
I disagree wholeheartedly with the idea of
instructive teaching - no matter the subject -
in the preschool years. It robs children of
opportunitites for wonder, problem solving
and particularly, the joy of discovery as they
learn through their play. Children
learn by doing!
United States
I agree Laura! I think this article puts teachers and parents back in fear mode that the kids aent getting enough "Drill". How about an article to help teachers and parents discuss what types of play experiences ARE teaching math- ie blocks, puzzles, etc. And ways for teachers to communicate that those experiences are the foundation that kids need to get the formally taught MAth in later years!!
Norwescap
Swartswood, NJ, United States
I wish this exchange had included the types of appropriate math experiences child care professionals should provide. As we know from all the recent articles on the benefits of play to young children, we don't want to "drill and kill" their desire to learn in a desperate attempt to keep them from falling beyond in later years.
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