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Erikson Institute Early Math Collaborative
Early Math Collaborative
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  • Why Early Math?
    Our Mission Big Ideas of Early Math Precursor Concepts Racial Justice
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    Whole Teacher Approach Learning Labs Instructional Coaching Leadership Academies Our Books
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  • Why Early Math?
    • Our Mission
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    • Leadership Academies
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    • Online Learning
    • Professional Learning Modules
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Learning Labs

Learning Labs

We believe that you have to understand what you are teaching to teach for understanding.

Learning labs are interactive full- or part-day sessions in which early childhood teachers, coaches, or administrators gain understanding of the math content and math teaching strategies to improve core competencies based on state and federal standards.

Learning labs aim to simultaneously deepen mathematical knowledge, change attitudes, and develop effective instructional practices. To do so, we engage adults in worthwhile math tasks and ask them to reflect on their experience as learners. Then we explore what children’s learning looks by examining video examples and learning progressions. Instructional strategies are highlighted throughout.

Big ideas of foundational math

We created the Big Ideas in Early Mathematics to address the need for a deeper understanding of foundational concepts in math and how they can be included in appropriate early childhood practice. Our Big Ideas use clear language to identify the central concepts within each mathematical topic—such as sets or number sense. Early childhood teachers can use these Big Ideas as a guide for thinking about the kinds of math learning opportunities they need to provide in their classrooms.

Content-focused whole teacher approach

The Whole Teacher Approach is a conceptual framework for the design of professional development designed by Dr. Jie-Qi Chen, the founder of the Early Math Collaborative. While addressing teacher knowledge, attitudes, and practice in an integrated fashion, multiple pathways to teacher development are activated and training is more successful and has longer-lasting effects. This philosophy is used to guide our program design, implementation, and evaluation.

They’ve helped me understand how a 5-year-old brain thinks and helped me connect my teaching to what numbers mean in their world

Teacher Participant from Gale Math and Science Academy 

Now I work to make [my students] mathematical thinkers. I want them to be able to tell me ‘why’ and ‘how’ they know things. My students are far more engaged and are more successful in kindergarten.

Teacher Participant from Lovett Elementary 

Audiences

We aim for change from the ground up. That means the most ideal professional development involves a community of learners: teachers, teacher leaders, and administrators.

  • Teachers: This includes direct intervention with teachers by Early Math Collaborative instructors in the form of Learning Labs and Instructional Coaching.
  • Leaders: Many interventions aim for a “train-the-trainers” model, in which we work with coaches, facilitators, or pre-service education professionals so that they can train their teachers and students.
  • Administrators: Leadership Academies help school administrators learn about Erikson’s approach to professional development, enhance their math knowledge and understanding, provide them with tools for classroom observation and conversations with teachers about instruction, and keep them informed about their teachers’ learning so they can support its implementation at their school.

Bulletin Board of Ideas

Browse updated lists of our favorite resources

Our Bulletin Board is continually updated with early math ideas from our favorite websites, blogs, and social media. Stay current with the latest in the field.

Learn more

Explore our Adult Learning Series

adult learning

Math-Related Greeting Builds Safe Learning Community

adult learning

Different Uses of Numbers with Anno’s Counting Book

adult learning

Ordering Similar Objects by Measurable Attributes

GO TO SERIES »

Big Ideas of Early Mathematics:

What Teachers of Young Children Need to Know

The Big Ideas that convey the core concepts of mathematics are at the heart of this book that gives early childhood educators the skills they need to organize for mathematics teaching and learning during the early years.
Order a copy

Online MS in Early Childhood Ed – STEM Focus

Get your degree online!

Elevate your practice and strengthen your knowledge of teaching and learning in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with an emphasis on children in preschool through third grade.
Find out more

Do the math.

 

Free videos.

Free newsletter packed with ideas.

Free professional learning modules.

 


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