As a pre-service teacher educator working with new teachers who are just beginning their preschool teaching careers, I have three main goals: (1) to help students draw on their own experiences in mathematics, good and bad, to create supportive mathematical learning environments for preschool children, (2) to support students in gaining knowledge about early mathematical development, and (3) to help students learn how to engage young children in rich mathematical activities.
Preschool Curriculum Course: 2 Sessions
These guidelines can provide six or more hours on early mathematics in a three-unit semester preschool curriculum course. It is broken into two segments, but can also be broken into shorter segments.
Laying a Foundation
Let’s orient participants to influences of beliefs regarding mathematics teaching, children’s strengths, and how to support and challenge children in their mathematical development in operations.
Session 1
Preparation homework for participants
- Readings: Counting on Operations, The Mathematics of Operations, and What Children Know and Need to Learn about Operations
Classroom Activities
- Implement the activity described in Analyzing One’s Own Thinking to Learn about Children’s.
- Implement the activity described in Extending Counting to Operations: Getting Started.
- Wrap up the session by asking participants in their small groups to choose two takeaway points from the activities and have them share out with the whole group.
Session 2
Preparation homework for participants
Classroom Activities
- Implement the Context Matters Activity.
- Implement the Extending Counting to Solve Problems: Archie & Cano Activity.
- Wrap up the session by asking students in their small groups to choose two takeaway points from the activities and share them with the whole group.
Resource Type