Mathematics Concepts and Curricular Activities
Content standards and mathematics concepts are heavily emphasized in preschool and primary grades curricula and classrooms. It is important for early educators to understand the hierarchical nature of how mathematical thinking grows and children’s need for concrete materials and hands-on experiences to eventually develop abstract reasoning. Each of the following sections describes mathematical concepts, materials, strategies, and activities that support the goals and expectations expressed in the national mathematics standards for PreK-2 children.
Number and Operations
The primary goal for numbers and operations is developing number sense, or “intuition” about the meaning of numbers in relation to other numbers (Charlesworth, 2005; Campbell, 1999; Witzel, Ferguson, & Mink, 2012) For example, a child who knows that 4 represents 1 more than 3 (2 + 2, 3 + 1), and 1 less than 5 understands that numbers are more than a matter of simple counting (Campbell, 1999, p. 113). Number sense links to future success in mathematics much as phonological awareness (recognizing and using language sounds) relates to achievement in reading (Witzel, Ferguson, & Mink, 2012).
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