Learning Along with Doing Something: Auto-Education

From birth, it is important for practitioners to support the early years’ mathematical development. Children learn emergent maths which is a “term used to describe children construct mathematics from birth” (Geist, 2010). The Early Years Statuary Frameworks (EYFS) (Department of Education) states that maths is one of the specific areas.

Children use numbers with daily activities eg. Songs. They also develop a range of flexible methods for working mentally with numbers. For example, when playing number games and flash cards.

In terms of numeracy, the children were drawing a variety of shapes in the sand which allowed me to use new words with them to further develop their vocabulary. I also used everyday words to help reinforce their existing vocabulary in a new context.

Problem Solving, Numeracy and Reasoning: Helping to expand their knowledge of problem solving using stories, games, role play, singing and games. Making the child feel easy talking about and understanding the language of reasoning and problem solving.

Van de Walle, J, Karp, K. S. & Bay-Williams, J. M. (2015). Elementary and Middle School Mathematics Teaching Developmentally. (9th ed.). England: Pearson Education Limited.

Every day, mathematics is used in our lives. From playing sports or games to cooking, these activities require the use of mathematical concepts. For young children, mathematical learning opportunities are all around them. Knaus (2013) states that ‘Young children are naturally curious and eager to learn about their surroundings and the world they live in’ (pg.1). Children, young and old, and even adults, learn when they explore, play and investigate. By being actively involved, engaging in activities that are rich, meaningful, self-directed and offer problem solving opportunities, children given the chance to make connections with their world experiences (Yelland, Butler & Diezmann, 1999). As an educator of young children,

The teacher will explain to students the meaning of why they need to know numbers.

Moreover, the teacher demonstrating the steps helps the children to understand more what they are meant to be doing in the activity so they are able to understand more and physically be able to do the activity. Ms. Smith also has one student who models each of the steps so that the other students can watch and ask questions. Once she is sure that all the students understand the project, she tells them they may begin. This gives every child the opportunity and does not allow any child to be left out this will help in there social/emotional development by giving each child an opportunity to be involved. Also, to help her students remember the steps, she has taped three large cards in the centre of each table. This helps the children to not forget the steps and helps the memory of the child which will improve on there cognitive development. The teacher also shows developmentally appropriate practice by allowing the children to use there sensory skills while they are being involved in the activity and cutting, pasting gluing and colouring.

I know that students learn best by hands on activities and creating. I choice to have the students use cheerios as part of the hands on activity and to create their own arrays, equations and story problems. They were free to pick numbers of their choosing with in my parameters of numbers. This supported the rigor because I asked them to create from scratch but also gave them to freedom to choose their own numbers and stories. As a teacher this was a great lesson to visually see who understand the standards and goals and who needs more practice. Most of the students who struggled with this lesson struggle with addition. I gathered the struggling student into a small group the following day to work on those skills. The learning outcome for this

Dr. Maria Montessori uses the term Absorbent Mind to describe the child 's mental capacity for soaking up knowledge and information unconsciously(Handbook). The influence of the Absorbent Mind lasts from birth to approximately six years of age. She

A sensitive period refers to “a special sensibility which a creature acquires in its infantile state" (Montessori, 1966, p.38). Such sensitive periods were first discovered in insects by the Dutch scientist Hugo de Vries, but according to Montessori, can also be found in children and are very important to consider in teaching.

Multiplicative thinking, fractions and decimals are important aspects of mathematics required for a deep conceptual understanding. The following portfolio will discuss the key ideas of each and the strategies to enable positive teaching. It will highlight certain difficulties and misconceptions that children face and discuss resources and activities to help alleviate these. It will also acknowledge the connections between the areas of mathematics and discuss the need for succinct teaching instead of an isolated approach.

Maths is ubiquitous in our lives, but depending on the learning received as a child it could inspire or frighten. If a child has a negative experience in mathematics, that experience has the ability to affect his/her attitude toward mathematics as an adult. Solso (2009) explains that math has the ability to confuse, frighten, and frustrate learners of all ages; Math also has the ability to inspire, encourage and achieve. Almost all daily activities include some form of mathematical procedure, whether people are aware of it or not. Possessing a solid learning foundation for math is vital to ensure a lifelong understanding of math. This essay will discuss why it is crucial to develop in children the ability to tackle problems with initiative and confidence (Anghileri, 2006, p. 2) and why mathematics has changed from careful rehearsal of standard procedures to a focus on mathematical thinking and communication to prepare them for the world of tomorrow (Anghileri).

“The mathematic mind is a mind that is especially interested in mathematics. Rather than find them boring and absurd, they find them interesting and absorbing. It is a fact that most children in our Montessori schools manage to achieve great enthusiasm while working with mathematics. Is the preparation of their minds that allows them to reach this pleasure."

We are able to begin to develop abilities in self-directed-studying during our first-year in the college, to be an effective student. We will be spending a considerable time getting information and learning the continuous creation of new information, new skills due to the fast pace of change in culture and technology, and an access to info. Much with this learning will happen at our own initiative. We as a person will have the main responsibility for implementing, planning, and even appraising our learning effort. This what we should understand as self-directed learning.