Teaching mathematics to young children in creative ways is made easy with this second edition of a wonderful book, which offers the reader clear advice and lots of exciting ideas to use in any early years setting. By showing how to introduce mathematical concepts through play-based activities, this book is in tune with current thinking about best practice in teaching, and with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and current Primary National Strategy. New material includes: - an additional chapter on creative recording - a whole new chapter on ways to involve parents - discussion of policy throughout the UK - more on using ICT - case studies covering the whole birth to eight age range Essential reading for any practitioner who wants to develop their mathematics teaching, this book is equally important for all trainee teachers and early years students. Kate Tucker is an early years teacher, trainer and writer based in Exeter; she has over 20 years of experience, and has written widely on early years mathematics and Foundation Stage practice.

This practical book provides pre- and inservice teachers with an understanding of how math can be learned through play. The author helps teachers to recognize the mathematical learning that occurs during play, to develop strategies for mathematizing that play, and to design formal lessons that make connections between mathematics and play. Common Core State Standards are addressed thorughout the text to demonstrate the ways in which play is critical to standards-based mathematics teaching, and to help teachers become more familiar with these standards. Classroom examples illustrate that, unlike most formal tasks, play offers children opportunities to solve nonroutine problems and to demonstrate a variety of mathematical ways of thinking, such as perseverence and attention to precision. This book will help put play back into the early childhood classrooms where it belongs. This book: makes explicit connections to play and the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics; offers many examples of free play activities in which mathematics can be highlighted, as well as formal lessons that are inspired by play; and provides strategies for making assessments more playful, helping teachers meet increasing demands for assessment data while also reducing child stress.

Tap into the Power of Child-Led Math Teaching and Learning Everything a child does has mathematical value--these words are at the heart of this completely revised and updated third edition of The Young Child and Mathematics. Grounded in current research, this classic book focuses on how teachers working with children ages 3 to 6 can find and build on the math inherent in children's ideas in ways that are playful and intentional. This resource - Illustrates through detailed vignettes how math concepts can be explored in planned learning experiences as well as informal spaces - Highlights in-the-moment instructional decision-making and child-teacher interactions that meaningfully and dynamically support children in making math connections - Provides an overview of what children know about counting and operations, spatial relations, measurement and data, and patterns and algebra - Offers examples of informal documentation and assessment approaches that are embedded within classroom practice Deepen your understanding of how math is an integral part of your classroom all day, every day. Includes online video!

This important book provides practical guidance for parents, teachers and other early years practitioners who are concerned with young children's musical development. The authors highlight the relationship between music and the development of communication, the expression of emotion and playfulness. They show how these three elements, in conjunction with musical activity and experience, underpin all future learning including the development of language. They go on to explore music as a subject in its own right and its role in supporting other areas of the curriculum. Insights from a wide range of research are presented in a way which makes them accessible to practitioners so that they can be used to inform and develop effective practice. Practitioners and parents are encouraged to have confidence in their own musical ability. The book provides a wide range of practical strategies and activities. It will show that everyone is capable of enjoying making music with young children and contributing to their future musical development.

This third edition of the best-selling Mathematics in Nursery Education provides an accessible introduction to the teaching of mathematics in the early years. Covering all areas of mathematics learning – number and counting, calculation, pattern, shape, measures and data handling – it summarises the research findings and underlying key concepts and explains how adults can help children to learn through practical experiences, discussion and more direct intervention. This new edition has been fully updated to incorporate the latest research and thinking in this area and includes: why mathematics is important as a way of making sense of the world how attitudes to mathematics can influence teaching and learning how children learn mathematics new material on sorting, matching and handling data ideas for observation and questioning to assess children’s understanding examples of planned activities suggestions for language development assessment criteria. This textbook is ideal for those training to be teachers through an undergraduate or PGCE route, those training for Early Years Professional Status and those studying early childhood on foundation or honours degrees as well as parents looking to explore how their young children learn mathematics. This will be an essential text for any Early Years practitioner looking to make mathematics interesting, exciting and engaging in their classroom.

Early childhood mathematics is vitally important for young children's present and future educational success. Research demonstrates that virtually all young children have the capability to learn and become competent in mathematics. Furthermore, young children enjoy their early informal experiences with mathematics. Unfortunately, many children's potential in mathematics is not fully realized, especially those children who are economically disadvantaged. This is due, in part, to a lack of opportunities to learn mathematics in early childhood settings or through everyday experiences in the home and in their communities. Improvements in early childhood mathematics education can provide young children with the foundation for school success. Relying on a comprehensive review of the research, Mathematics Learning in Early Childhood lays out the critical areas that should be the focus of young children's early mathematics education, explores the extent to which they are currently being incorporated in early childhood settings, and identifies the changes needed to improve the quality of mathematics experiences for young children. This book serves as a call to action to improve the state of early childhood mathematics. It will be especially useful for policy makers and practitioners-those who work directly with children and their families in shaping the policies that affect the education of young children.

This book gives insights in the vivid research area of early mathematics learning. The collection of selected chapters mirrors the research topics presented at the fourth POEM conference in May 2018. Thematically, the volume reflects the importance of this evolving area of research, which has begun to attract attention in the spheres of education and public policy due to increased interest in early years learning. The research foci of the chapters comprise children’s mathematical reasoning, early years mathematics teaching, and the role of parents for children’s mathematical development. The 2018 conference included a wider range of researchers than previous years.