KSM1: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) process skills as vehicles for acquiring and using mathematics content knowledge
Evidence 1: Mother Goose Cares About Math and Science
Description: "Mother Goose Cares about Math and Science" is an integrated curriculum of science process skills and standards-based mathematics concepts for preschool children. The course increases science and math literacy and the ability to incorporate NCTM standards, and science process skills, into daily interactions with children.
Analysis: This workshop gave a detailed list of the process standards according to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. For young children, NCTM has identified five processes that are especially critical to learning about mathematics, and they include: problem solving, reasoning and proof, communicating, making connections, and representing. Participants were also taught various ways to incorporate these processes into our classrooms.
Evidence 2: Everyday Mathematics
Bell, J. (2004). Everyday mathematics ([2nd ed.). Columbus, OH: SRA/McGraw-Hill.
Description: "Everyday Mathematics is a comprehensive Pre-K through Grade 6 mathematics program engineered for the Common Core State Standards.Developed by The University of Chicago, School Mathematics Project, Everyday Mathematics helps your students achieve true mastery of the CCSS by continually reinforcing math concepts through concrete real-world applications and reinforces math concepts across carefully constructed learning progressions."
Analysis: This resource is helpful in this arena as it details various ways in which teachers can include mathematics in all areas of the classroom. Math can be found in the reading area, the block area, the dramatic play area and at the snack and lunch table. Children spontaneously explore mathematics at all times as they interact with materials, each other and their surroundings. Children count, sort, notice and describe shapes and patterns, estimate and compare sizes and wonder about the numbers they see all around them. These mathematical observations and developing concepts are important tools that children use as they explore and make sense of their world. They also serve as a foundation for later growth and learning.
Evidence 3: VELI Training
Description: This training focused on building math literacy within the preschool classroom.
Analysis: This training focused on the process standards and content standards, while also stressing the importance of using literacy within a math lesson. One of the most useful pieces of information I took away from this training was the need to represent the thoughts and ideas of the children in my classroom. Using graphs, diagrams, pictures or even dictated words of students to represent their mathematical ideas, encourages children to build upon their current math skills and to then further their level of understanding.
