Hello Friends,
Mathematics is the language of science. Recently, much attention has been focused ,on the need to improve the technical and scientific skills of American students. The demands of the 21st century will require a workforce that is competent in and comfortable with mathematics. Educators should start preparing students for these demands in pre-school. As care givers of young children, we know that most children have the capability to learn and become competent in mathematics. Unfortunately, for many young children, the potential to learn mathematics in the early years of school is not realized. Sadly, this is the case for low income children, many of whom start out behind in mathematics and will remain so without extensive, high-quality mathematics instruction. In many instances, this is because teachers and care givers are not comfortable with mathematics themselves.
Mathematics Learning in Early Childhood recommends that a coordinated national early childhood mathematics initiative be put in place to improve mathematics teaching and learning for all children ages 3-6. The goal should be to ensure that all children enter elementary school with the mathematical foundational skills they need for success.
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) recommends in the document, Curriculum Focal Points, the following content standards for preschool children:
· number and operations
· geometry and spatial sense
· measurement
· patterns (algebra)
· data analysis
How are you teaching math to the children in your care? We will also break down each of the content standards in following posts.
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