Ep. 91 - How to support children’s early love and understanding of math

In this episode, we are joined by Drs Douglas Clements and Julie Sarama to discuss early math learning. Douglas H. Clements is Distinguished University Professor, Kennedy Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Learning, and Executive Director of the Marsico Institute for Early Learning at the University of Denver. Previously a kindergarten teacher for five years and a preschool teacher for one, he has conducted research and published widely in the areas of the learning and teaching of early mathematics and computer applications in mathematics education. His most recent interests are in creating, using, and evaluating a research-based curriculum and in taking successful curricula to scale using technologies and learning trajectories.He has served on the U.S. President's National Mathematics Advisory Panel, the Common Core State Standards committee, and the National Research Council’s Committee on Early Mathematics, and is and co-author each of their reports.    Julie Sarama is the Kennedy Endowed Chair in Innovative Learning Technologies and Professor at the University of Denver. She conducts research on young children's development of mathematical concepts and competencies, implementation and scale-up of educational reform, professional development models and their influence on student learning, and implementation and effects of software environments in mathematics classrooms. She has taught secondary mathematics and computer science, gifted math at the middle school level, preschool and kindergarten mathematics enrichment classes, and mathematics methods and content courses for elementary to secondary teachers.She designed and programmed over 50 published computer programs, including her version of Logo and Logo-based software activities, including Turtle Math™, which was awarded the Technology & Learning Software of the Year award.   In this episode, we delve into what constitutes early math knowledge, and how to support it at home. As we discuss, caregivers often engage in numeracy talk and behavior with children without consciously doing so. As Douglas and Julie point out, there are also many additional opportunities in early childhood (and beyond) to incorporate math into fun activities (such as Candyland).    To learn more about how to incorporate math into everyday interactions with your children please visit the following websites:   https://www.learningtrajectories.org/ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Douglas_Clements https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julie-Sarama