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Parents often get a jump on formal instruction when it comes to language and literacy by reading to their toddlers and teaching the alphabet before their kids ever set foot in a classroom. But getting a head start on mathematics is often restricted to teaching children to count, says Lynn McGarvey, a professor of elementary education at the University of Alberta whose research looks at teaching and learning math in early childhood.
McGarvey says her research focus on instilling mathematical concepts in young learners aims to promote numeracy the way literacy has been emphasized as a foundational educational experience.
"When educators and parents create opportunities for mathematical engagement in day-to-day activities, then children will experience mathematics not just as a skill or a tool, but a way of thinking and being in the world," she says.
McGarvey says there are a few things math-minded parents and early childhood educators can think about when interacting with young learners.
I've tried lots of things to get my kids interested in math. So far, the most effective has been demonstrating the power of purposeful laziness. What are your experiences?
(Score: 2) by kazzie on Tuesday March 22 2016, @08:31PM
Polydron [polydron.co.uk] is a building set where the pieces are all two-dimensional shapes, which interlock along the edges. They can be joined to make two-dimensional tessellations or three-dimensional solids. I first encountered them on a Gifted Maths scheme (Royal Institution Mathematics Masterclasses) at the age of 15 or so, in an investigation into platonic solids.
Having recently trained as a maths teacher, I bought a box of second hand polydron pieces, and brought them out when my extended family came to visit recently. I had kids from ages 2 to 9 building shapes with them, and several of the adults joining in too. I challenged some of the older kids to see what solids they could build using (e.g.) only pentagons, predict how many more pieces they'd need to complete their solid, etc. The younger ones just enjoyed sorting and classifying, and putting pieces together to build something out of their imagination.