Lauren Solarski, M.S.
Coach
Lauren used to hate math. While previously serving as a Kindergarten teacher, she participated in professional development with the Early Math Collaborative and could not get enough… so she came to Erikson as a Doctoral Fellow in 2014 and joined the EMC Research Team. In addition to working with Collaborative Math, Lauren coordinated the Early Childhood STEM Working Group which brought together national experts to publish the report Early STEM Matters: Providing High-Quality STEM Experiences for All Young Learners. Now as a coach and professional development facilitator, she is passionate about empowering teachers to love math and improve their classroom instruction. She was a 2014 Illinois State Finalist for the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and contributes her recent experience working in Pk-2 classrooms. Lauren is also an instructor in Erikson Institute’s Teacher Education and Child Development Masters Programs.
Education
B.A. English, DePaul University
M.S. Elementary Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University
In Progress: Ph.D. in Child Development, Loyola University/Erikson Institute
Publications
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Solarski, L.
(2018). “Viewpoint. Finding Joy in Kindergarten Mathematics.” Young Children, vol. 73, no. 5, November 2018. National Association for the Education of Young Children.
National Association for the Education of Young Children Download File
Research Presentations
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Solarski, L.
(2018, March). Empowering Early Childhood Educators to Enhance Teaching and Learning: The Promise and Complexity of Coaching. Presentation at the Loyola Graduate School Interdisciplinary Research Symposium.
Teacher Education Presentations
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Grandau, L.,
Solarski, L.
(2018, February.) Developing our curious minds: A focus on math and science. Presentation at the Collaboration for Early Childhood Annual Symposium
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Grandau, L.,
Solarski, L.,
Hynes-Berry, M.
(2018). Using picture books to help children see and talk about math all around them. Presentation at National Association of the Education of Young Children National Conference.
National Association for the Education of Young Children -
Hynes-Berry, M.,
Solarski, L.,
Grandau, L.
(2017). Developing Our Eyes and Ears for Mathematical Thinking in the Early Years. Keynote at the Wisconsin Mathematics Council Annual Conference, Early Math Educators Summit, Green Lake Conference Center.
View Link -
Solarski, L.
(2017). Nurturing Number Sense: Games, Stories, and Routines to Mpower Your Mini Mathematicians. Presentation at the Mpower the Night Annual Celebration, Metropolitan Family Services DuPage.