Article Link: http://www.exchangepress.com/article/nature-as-a-path-to-early-math/5022752/
The curriculum in most preschool programs tends to focus primarily on language, early literacy, and social-emotional development. An academic area that is frequently neglected is mathematics (Cross, Woods, & Schweingruber, 2009). Yet, recent research shows that children’s mathematical ability when they enter kindergarten is a better predictor of later school success than their reading ability (Duncan et al., 2007). What’s especially surprising is the fact that early knowledge of math not only predicts later success in mathematics, but is also a better predictor of later reading achievement than early reading skills (Duncan et al., 2007).
In response to school readiness concerns, a number of states (including NY, IL, AZ, CO, PA, WI, CA, and OH) have developed early learning standards, which include mathematics. Colorado’s early math standards focus on two areas:
a) number sense, properties, and operations; and b) shapes, dimension, and geometric relationships. The related math expectations are as follows:
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Number sense, properties, and operations |
Quantities can be represented and counted. |
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Shapes, dimension, and geometric relationships |
Shapes can be observed in the world and described in relation to one another. Measurement is used to compare objects. |
These areas and related expectations are typical of early math standards in other states. They are also consistent with the Common ...