Series: Hear from the Experts
New Education Research Points to Importance of Math Understanding in Preschool
Kindergarteners’ Mathematics Success Hinges on Preschool Skills
University of Missouri
"While many studies have been conducted on infants’ and preschoolers’ math competencies, few have evaluated how toddlers’ basic mathematics knowledge relates to early elementary school success. Now, in a study funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), researchers at the University of Missouri discovered that preschoolers who better process words associated with numbers, such as “three” or “four,” and understand the quantities associated with these words are more likely to have success with math when they enter kindergarten."
Go to linkA new study by the University of Missouri finds what many educators suspect: a better number sense and ability to manipulate number sets in the preschool years leads to better understanding and success in mathematics when children enter kindergarten. But more education research would be helpful to better understand best practices in preK and kindergarten classes.