Foundational Math Topics
Age/Grade Levels
Content Formats
Series
Foundational Math Topic: Pattern
Pattern is less a topic of mathematics than a defining quality of mathematics itself. Mathematics “makes sense” because its patterns allow us to generalize our understanding from one situation to another. Children who expect mathematics to “make sense” look for patterns. Children need many opportunities to discover and talk about patterns in mathematics. These experiences help them form the attitude and confidence that mathematics should make sense, the crucial foundation all children need to become persistent and flexible problem solvers. © Erikson Institute’s Early Math Collaborative. Reprinted from Big Ideas of Early Mathematics: What Teachers of Young Children Need to Know (2014), Pearson Education.
Series: Focus on the Child
Repeating Patterns with Child 14
October 11, 2016
A child is pushed to decipher the repeating pattern in an array of blocks. Then he attempts to continue the pattern.
- Topic: Pattern
- Age/Grade Level: Kindergarten, Pre-K
Series: Focus on the Child March 15, 2016
Second Grade Problem Solving with Child 5
This second grader demonstrates an interesting choice for a mathematical model by graphing.
- Topic: Number Operations, Pattern
- Age/Grade Level: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade
- Tags Child 5, Correction, Problem Solving
Series: Hear from the Experts September 16, 2015
Talking with Children Sets the Groundwork for Mathematical Learning
A new book, Thirty Million Words: Building a Child's Brain, explains the importance of regularly talking with children ages 0-3—the time during which the brain develops most rapidly. Ensuring that these conversations take place will help children progress with their language, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills.
Series: About the Collaborative May 27, 2015
Collaboration with the Ounce Highlights Math Development in Children Ages 0-3
Reading a "touch-and-feel" book or singing an action song with a baby or toddler is setting the groundwork for mathematical thinking and future school success. That's the point of Math All Around Me (MAAM), a joint program between Erikson Institute Early Math Collaborative and The Ounce of Prevention Fund, established to study the math capabilities of children ages 0-3.
Series: Ideas at Work March 30, 2015
Intentional Teaching Comes to Life with Big Shoulders Project
A Chicago-area teacher's intentional teaching and efforts to differentiate for students of varying ability and confidence resulted in a rich math lesson. Based on Audrey Wood's classic book The Napping House, students created their own books with the details and content unique to themselves.
Series: Focus on the Child April 11, 2014
Pattern with Child 14
This second grader extends a shape pattern to ordinal numbers.
- Topic: Pattern
- Age/Grade Level: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade
- Tags Child 14, Correction, Problem Solving
Series: Focus on the Child March 4, 2013
Repeating Patterns with Child 31
A child attempts to duplicate a pattern using colored blocks.
- Topic: Pattern
- Age/Grade Level: Kindergarten, Pre-K
- Tags Child 31
Series: Focus on the Child March 3, 2013
Repeating Patterns with Child 32
A child makes patterns using keys.
- Topic: Pattern
- Age/Grade Level: Kindergarten, Pre-K
- Tags Child 32
Series: Focus on the Lesson March 2, 2013
Who Is Napping?
Teachers encourage children to describe the pattern in a favorite story book.
- Topic: Pattern
- Age/Grade Level: Kindergarten, Pre-K
- Tags Books
Series: Focus on the Child March 2, 2013
Growing Patterns with Child 32
A child attempts to find what comes next in a pattern.
- Topic: Pattern
- Age/Grade Level: Kindergarten, Pre-K
- Tags Child 32
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