The authors of Preschool Math--a scientist, a Montessori teacher, and an Emergent Curriculum advocate--come from different backgrounds and all offer unique expertise to the book. This combination gives the book a particularly interesting and stimulating approach, and makes the book usable for any teacher. Preschool Math encourages teachers to listen to and observe young children to better understand how they think about their world. The book uses these prompts to expand into useful and appropriate math experiences. Teachers will encourage children to use their senses and bodies to explore ideas, record and talk about the concepts, and to learn how math feels, tastes, and looks. Activities in Preschool Math use the scientific ideals of testing, evaluating, exploring, experimenting, problem solving, making guesses, and forming a hypothesis, while utilizing interesting materials and environments in mathematical ways.
Special features of this book
- Each activity includes assessment following standards set by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
- Activities are geared for a range of ages and abilities, and many types of learning environments.
- Experiences included in the book originate in children's own explorations of math concepts in day-to-day play.
- Preschool Math encourages hands-on playful and child-focused experiences that guide children towards a sound understanding of the basic math concepts.
- Preschool Math encourages teachers, caregivers, students and parents to create math experiences from everyday events and materials.
Preschool Math encourages children's thoughtful considerations, theory development, and logical exploration. It discourages interrogation or forcing a yes or no answer. Teachers are encouraged to observe children's play when introducing math concepts, or environment in ways that are appropriate at that time and for those children. This approach helps children learn math concepts as they are ready for them.
Preschool Math is written so that teachers can easily access and use the activities. The authors suggest materials and activities as well as describe ways to talk with the children or to encourage further exploration over future days or weeks. Teachers can find activities that best suit children's needs, or use the ideas to set up environments that will encourage children to explore math. Preschool Math will enrich the lives of children, introduce concepts that build foundations for a lifetime of learning, encourage wondering and exploration, and provide encouragement for adults to make early childhood a real math playground!
