Author(s): Amy MacDonald

Maths and Blocks

Mathematics in Early Childhood Education provides students with a range of options for teaching mathematics to young children, by showing how to adapt education practice to suit early childhood contexts, including home, playgroup, childcare, preschool, and school. The text is informed by, and presents, current Australasian and international research relevant to early childhood mathematics education to help pre-service teachers increase confidence and build up a comprehensive professional identity as a mathematics educator.

Divided into three sections, Part 1 explains the overarching theoretical framework for the teaching of mathematics in early childhood education, including a dedicated chapter on curricula. Part 2 includes opinion pieces to various mathematics education approaches helping students to develop various theoretical perspectives. Part 3 provides lesson plans on topics such as patterns, measurement and space and geometry, encouraging students to fully engage with the mathematics content.

Mathematics in Early Childhood Education balances theoretical perspectives with strong practical examples and teacher guidance providing pre-service educators an all-inclusive solution to teaching mathematics in early childhood.