This book challenges traditional beliefs and practices of teaching 'written' mathematics in early childhood. It gives theoretical underpinnings and offers exciting insights and context to children's early mathematical thinking and in particular into children's mathematical graphics, showing how this supports their understanding of the abstract symbolic language of mathematics. Drawing on a wide range of examples, it illustrates and explains how children explore and communicate their mathematical thinking through their mathematical graphics, and how this begins in play. The book looks at the power of children's own marks, symbols and other graphical representations to convey meanings, exploring how they support complex thinking. The authors explore the relationship between children's play and meaning making. Rather than viewing mathematics as a separate subject or as a set of basic 'skills' to be transmitted, they demonstrate that in supportive learning cultures children develop their own mathematical thinking to solve problems. Key features include: Numerous new examples and case studies of children from birth to 8 years,highlighting the complexity and richness of children's thinking Explanation of pedagogical issues - showing how they can support rich play and mathematics Draws on the authors' latest research This book is valuable reading for students, teachers, primary mathematics coordinators' and all early years' professionals working in the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage One.

Key features include: --

This bestselling textbook provides an introduction to the fundamentals of teaching and learning in early years and primary education. If you are training to work in schools or other educational settings, the book offers a wide range of practical and straightforward guidance, covering essential topics such as safeguarding; attachments and relationships; assessment; the indoor and outdoor environment; new technologies; behaviour management; and well-being. Thoroughly updated throughout and retaining its lively and engaging style, this new fifth edition extends your knowledge and understanding of working and playing effectively with young children. Enlivened by thought-provoking cameos and reflective questions, the book gives you the confidence to reflect upon, challenge and enhance your own pedagogies. Key features include: • Real life cameos drawn from schools and settings • Questions to promote thinking included in each chapter • Suggested further reading including a range of annotated references • Up-to-date research and issues that teachers may face Beginning Teaching, Beginning Learning is essential reading for student and newly qualified early years and primary teachers and practitioners, as well as those who educate and train them. "This outstanding book should a core text for beginning teachers working in the birth to 11 age range. It places Early Years and Primary education in the historical context and encourages new teachers to become reflective practitioners by adopting a questioning approach based on thoughtful comparative experiences. One aspect which makes this stand out from other similar texts is the focus it has on developing a deep understanding of the partnership between children’s learning and the beginner teacher. Contributors, many of whom have been teachers themselves, include experts not only in their specific fields of interest but also in teacher education more broadly so understand what is relevant for those on initial teacher education courses and those in the early stages of their teaching career." Jane Warwick, Primary PGCE Course Manager, University of Cambridge, UK "Beginning Teaching, Beginning Learning should be a core text on all birth to 11 years ITT courses. The book neatly combines grounded cameos of actual teaching experience with real life questions and dovetails these with a thoroughly referenced scholarly critique. Through its engaging style and approach the book speaks clearly and directly to the inquisitive, curious and professional novice teacher who wishes to be both thoroughly reflective and knowledgeable of the latest research. This book is hugely successful as it manages to be both very wide in its content whilst encouraging a questioning and in-depth critical thinking throughout". Guy Roberts-Holmes, MA Early Years Education Programme Director, UCL Institute of Education, UK

′The book is grounded in the latest research about how children become effective learners, particularly in relation to mathematics. Bringing together research and practice in an accessible way, Kate Tucker provides an essential resource for all those who work with young children. I strongly recommend it!′ - Dr Sue Rogers, Head of Department of Early years and Primary Education, Institute of Education Offering practical examples of focused, playful teaching this popular book is back for a third edition, with even more activities to use in your setting with children aged from 3 to 8. Completely updated to include the revised Early Years Foundation Stage, this new edition covers all the hot topics in the field, and now includes: a new section on teaching mathematics in Forest School more coverage of using ICT to teach mathematics more coverage of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) a key vocabulary section at the end of each chapter, and a detailed glossary expanded and updated suggestions for Further Reading even more activities to use in lessons, with some extended to include 7-8 year olds With a user-friendly layout, this new edition is an ideal resource for practitioners wishing to enhance their mathematics teaching, and for students wishing to develop their knowledge and understanding of how to use play to teach mathematics. Kate Tucker is an early years teacher, trainer and writer based in Devon.

This book stems from the authors’ shared passion for primary mathematics teaching and offers an exploration of contemporary issues facing teachers. Drawing on research and case studies from practice, the book explores a wide range of concepts as starting points for professional reflection and personal development to improve teaching and learning in primary mathematics. Topics covered include: Using children’s mathematical misconceptions to support teaching and learning The role of talk in developing mathematical understanding Evidence-based teaching and learning Making mathematics real and purposeful beyond the classroom The role of games in teaching and learning mathematics ICT and mathematics The book illustrates the ways in which professional development that is rooted in practitioner inquiry and research enables teachers to advance their practice, resulting in improved outcomes for their pupils. Improving Primary Mathematics Teaching and Learning is appropriate for teachers undertaking professional development programmes (e.g. MaST, MA programmes), trainee teachers and staff on those programmes, both local authority and independent. Contributors: Mike Askew, Sue Bailey, Elizabeth Carruthers, Victoria Grinyer, Alice Hansen, Lynne McClure, Effie Maclellan, Suzan Nelson, Carol Rushworth-Little, Steve Sherer, Ian Thompson, Vivien Townsend, Maulfry Worthington. "In this book Mary McAteer brings together contributors with a wealth of experience in research and practice. The way in which practical and theoretical perspectives are brought to life with case studies and examples make it a highly readable text and every chapter adds new insights into children's mathematics learning." Dr Julia Anghileri, University of Cambridge (retired)

Structured around Bishop’s six fundamental mathematical activities, this book brings together examples of mathematics education from a range of countries to help readers broaden their view on maths and its interrelationship to other aspects of life. Considering different educational traditions and diverse contexts, and illustrating theory through the use of real-life vignettes throughout, this book encourages readers to review, reflect on, and critique their own practice when conducting activities on explaining, counting, measuring, locating, designing, and playing. Aimed at early childhood educators and practitioners looking to improve the mathematics learning experience for all their students, this practical and accessible guide provides the knowledge and tools to help every child.

This collection provides an introduction to the practical skills which all student teachers have to develop, as well as celebrating the unpredictability and excitement of working with interested and inquisitive children.

This edited book promotes thinking, dialogue, research and theorisation on multiple ways of making connections in mathematics teaching and learning in early childhood education. The book addresses some key challenges in research, policy and practice in early childhood mathematics education. It examines diverse ways for learning experiences to connect young children to mathematics, and the importance of forging connections between mathematics and young children’s lives as key elements in their engagement with mathematics. Each chapter provides research or theoretical provocations and pedagogical implications for connecting children’s lived experiences and ways of learning in mathematics teaching. The chapters are drawn from a range of international authors who raise important ideas within the overall context of current research and consider the theoretical and practical implications of their research. As such, the book advances current thinking on mathematics teaching and learning for children in the early years from birth to eight years with an emphasis on children aged birth to 5 years. It considers the purpose and value in connecting mathematics teaching and learning to children’s lives, and provides provocations for both educators and researchers on the many under-researched and under-represented aspects of early years mathematics teaching and learning.

This is the first comprehensive book to consider STEM education from early childhood through to senior secondary education. It approaches STEM as a form of real-world, problem-based education that draws on the knowledge and skills of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Rather than presenting each of the separate disciplines to an equal extent, it focuses on STEM researchers’ perspectives on how their work contributes to effective STEM education in terms of building knowledge, skills and engagement. Gathering contributions by authors from various countries, the book explores effective STEM education from a range of perspectives within the international context. Moreover, it addresses critical issues in STEM education, including transition and trajectories, gender, rurality, socioeconomic status and cultural diversity. By doing so, it not only shares the current state of knowledge in this field, but also offers a source of inspiration for future research.