ABSTRACT
This chapter covers the many aspects of mathematics in the early childhood setting. Standards are referenced, sources are cited, and best practices for teaching math topics and concepts to young children are included. The many skill sets children need to understand the processes and patterns inherent in the learning of mathematics are delineated. The skills are laid out in a hierarchical structure, introducing the concept of numeracy as foundational to the more complex and subsequent math skills. At the beginning of the chapter is an overview of math in a young child’s life, recognizing that math is everywhere. Children arrive at school already knowing a lot about math skills, such as comparisons, magnitude, and values, to name a few. This chapter discusses sets, numeracy, number sense and operations, pattern, measurement, data analysis, spatial relationships, and shapes and geometry. At the end of the chapter are the Arts grid and skill sets for Mathematics grid.
