Developing Maths In Early Years

What Maths Is Not In E.Y.F.S Writing pages of sums/worksheets Not about what a child can record Not about the ability to form numbers Not about right or wrong

What Maths Should Be In Early Years Fun and creative Rooted in play based activities About developing resilience problem solving and a ‘can do’ attitude

Mathematical Concepts Taught In Early Years Counting Estimating Recognising numerals Early addition – two sets of objects to find a total/ Increasing an original amount by counting up which results in a new total Early subtraction –Physical removal of objects from a group/counting back/ the difference between. Early multiplication and division taught through concepts of doubling, halving and sharing

Mathematical Concepts Taught In Early Years Position and direction Pattern and symmetry Length Weight Capacity Time Sorting and matching collections Problem solving skills 2 and 3 dimensional shape

The Role of the Adult Encourage children to have a go Challenge them to try out new ideas Give children the time to explore and develop their ideas Use / Model mathematical language Offer strategies and extend thinking •

Maths Opportunities in the Environment Mathematical opportunities are everywhere in our learning environment Mathematical opportunities are not be limited to a purpose built maths area

Your Role As A Parent Children of parents who take an active interest in their schooling make greater progress than other children Gains in pupil achievement that stem from parental involvement programmes and activities tend to be permanent Family influences have a more powerful effect on children’s achievements than either school or neighbourhood factors

Mathematical Vocabulary Before the age of seven children’s vocabulary growth is largely determined by parental practice. This applies to mathematical vocabulary too The importance of number rhymes in developing early mathematical concepts Traditional stories and their links to mathematical development

Traditional Stories – Some Examples The Three Bears- counting, sorting and matching, positional language, time and ordering according to size Jack and the Beanstalk ,positional language, counting comparison of size, time The Three Billy Goats Gruff – counting, sorting and matching, positional language, time and ordering according to size

Contemporary Stories Who Sank The Boat Dear Zoo My Cat Likes To Hide In Boxes Aliens Love Underpants We’re Going On A Bear-Hunt Dina0saur Roar Brown Bear, Brown Bear Rosie’s Walk The Bad Tempered Ladybird Mr Archimedes’s Bath The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Counting Books Ten Little Ladybirds Handa’s Hen Ten Little Monsters One Gorilla, a counting book In My Garden March of the Dinosaurs Ten Tiny Babies We all went on Safari

Number Rhymes Five Little Speckled Frogs Five Little Ducks Five Little Monkeys Ten Green bottles Ten In A Bed This Old Man Ten Fat sausages One, Two, Three Four Five

Systematic Approach In Nursery To Number Rhymes Rhymes chosen which support both counting on and counting back One introduced every week Resources and activities planned around the rhyme Collection built up Opportunities to make up own number rhymes- e.g. Ten fluffy teddies etc

Maths at Home Singing songs – counting Counting steps – 1-1- correspondence Setting the table – counting and sorting Pairing socks and shoes – sorting and matching Filling and emptying containers in the bath Cooking – weighing and measuring Looking for shapes and patterns – space, shape and measure Playing with coins – money Board Games – See next slide

Importance of Playing Games

Maths Challenges At Home Practical activities Easy and cheap Making maths fun Not about writing sums Spending time with your child