| CODE | EPE2008 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Children's Early Experiences of Mathematics | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Early Childhood and Primary Education | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will highlight the influence of key theorists on early childhood mathematics education and recent research into Early Childhood mathematics will be explored. The development of mathematical knowledge through young children’s experiences will also be discussed. Such experiences include naturalistic, informal and teacher-guided activities. The five key mathematical strands - Number & Operations, Algebra, Space and Shape, Measurement and Data Handling - will be introduced. This will be done in order to ensure that the students themselves understand key mathematical concepts relevant to the early years. The application to Early Years experiences of the key mathematical processes – representing, communicating, reasoning, connecting and problem solving - will also be explored. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to provide students with an understanding and knowledge of general mathematical development in young children and a knowledge of pedagogic strategies appropriate for early childhood learning contexts. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Outline key theories influencing mathematics education and reflect on relevant research; • Explain key mathematical concepts relevant to young children’s experiences and apply them to early years settings and activities; • Explain key mathematical processes and recognize their application to young children’s experiences; • Recognise how children’s experiences, including home life, play and stories, present opportunities for the development of mathematical ideas. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Recognise children’s level of development of mathematical ideas; • Take advantage of opportunities to highlight mathematical ideas and/or prompt mathematical processes as such opportunities present themselves through play and other informal contexts; • Plan for adult-guided activities that promote attention to mathematical ideas and processes; • Build on children’s interests and link with themes to encourage children’s interest in mathematics and to enhance mathematical learning. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main text: - Charlesworth, R. (2012). Experiences in Math for Young Children. U.K. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Supplementary Texts: - Cook, G., Jones, L., Murphy, C. and Thumpston, G. (1997). Enriching Early Mathematical Learning. Buckingham, UK: Open University Press. - Jackman, H.L. (2012). Early Education Curriculum: A Child's Connection to the World. U.K. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. - Moonaw, S. and Hieronymus, B. (1995). More than counting: Whole math activities for Preschool and Kindergarten. St. Paul, MN: Red Leaf Press. - Moonaw, S. and Hieronymus, B. (1999). Much more than counting: More math activities for Preschool and Kindergarten. St. Paul, MN: Red Leaf Press. - Montague-Smith, A. (2012). Mathematics in Nursery Education (2nd edition). London: David Fulton. - Saracho, O.N. and Spodek, B. (Eds.). (2008). Contemporary Perspectives on Mathematics in Early Childhood Education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc. - Schiller, P. & Peterson, L (1997). Count on Math: Activities for Small Hands and Lively Minds. Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House. - Seefeldt, C. and Galper, A. (2004). Active Experiences for Active Children: Mathematics. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. - Sperry Smith, S. (2012). Early Childhood Mathematics (5th Edition). Boston: Allyn & Bacon (older edition 2001 available)Tucker, K. (2010). Mathematics Through Play in the Early Years (2nd Edition). London: Sage. - Waring, S. and Trew, A. (2013). Maths Adventures with Twoo: Stories and activities to promote mathematical reasoning at KS1. London: The Mathematical Association. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Marie Therese Farrugia |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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