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No More Math Anxiety
January 17, 2017
At this crucial time in our lives, when everything is so desperate, when every day is a matter of survival, I don't think you can help but be involved.
-Nina Simone, American musician, 1933-2003
-Nina Simone, American musician, 1933-2003
"I have heard many teachers in early childhood programs joke about their math anxiety. I have heard stories of students in early childhood degree programs who do not finish their degrees because of the math requirement," observes Heather Wenig in the Exchange Beginnings Professional Development Workshop on Math.
"Helping teachers to recognize and celebrate the ways they are already, often unconsciously, building math concepts in their classroom inspires confidence and dispels myths they have created about themselves and math." Wenig recommends "recognizing teachers' 'moments of effectiveness' and articulating for them the impact that moment has on children’s learning." Here's an example Wenig shares: "This morning I heard you giving Nola verbal directions to find the shelf where the puppets belong. Did you know that you were giving her practice with geometry? You helped her develop her ideas of spatial relationships."
 Beginnings Professional Development Workshops are 20% off this week. They are the perfect platform for keeping your staff up-to-date on the hottest curriculum topics. Each session is...
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Enter code "BW20" when prompted.
 Offer valid through January 18, 2017 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. |
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Comments (1)
Displaying 1 CommentPennsylvania, United States
I think this points out one of the great disconnects of early childhood education. In the early childhood environment, children use math as they sort beads and buttons, piece together puzzles, build with blocks, count out napkins etc. this is math---yet the boxed curriculum and tests may be placing emphasis on math skills more appropriate for grade school children. It's no wonder students of early childhood ed. may have anxiety when they believe they need to teach children skills that are not developmentally appropriate for preschoolers---that just creates anxiety for everyone. As a nation, we need to slow this craze to 'educate' our preschoolers----it's all about care and conversation-- prepare the environment for the children and be there to support their interests and creativity.
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