Exploring Mathematics Through Play in the Early Childhood Classroom

by Amy Noelle Parks

This practical book provides pre- and inservice teachers with an understanding of how math can be learned through play. The author helps teachers to recognize the mathematical learning that occurs during play, to develop strategies for mathematizing that play, and to design formal lessons that make connections between mathematics and play. Common Core State Standards are addressed throughout the text to demonstrate the ways in which play is critical to standards-based mathematics teaching, and to help teachers become more familiar with these standards. Classroom examples illustrate that, unlike most formal tasks, play offers children opportunities to solve nonroutine problems and to demonstrate a variety of mathematical ways of thinking—such as perseverance and attention to precision. This book will help put play back into the early childhood classroom where it belongs.

Book Features:

Makes explicit connections to play and the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics. Offers many examples of free play activities in which mathematics can be highlighted, as well as formal lessons that are inspired by play. Provides strategies for making assessments more playful, helping teachers meet increasing demands for assessment data while also reducing child stress. Includes highlight boxes with recommended resources, questions for reflection, key research findings, vocabulary, lesson plan templates, and more.

“This is one of those books that I wish I had written. It is smart, readable, relevant, and authentically focused on children.”
—From the Foreword by Elizabeth Graue, Sorenson Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of Wisconsin

“In this deceptively easy-to-read book, Amy Parks explains two things that could make a world of difference in early childhood and elementary classrooms: Mathematics isn’t something in a workbook—it’s a fascinating part of the real world; And playing in school isn’t a luxury—it’s an essential context for learning about all sorts of things, including mathematics. Through vignettes of children learning mathematics as they play, Parks helps teachers recognize their ‘answerability to the moment,’ eschewing someone else’s determination of ‘best practice’ in favor of what works with actual children eager to learn mathematics.”
—Rebecca New, School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Genres: Teaching, Education

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 7, 2014

About the author

Amy Noelle Parks is a professor of elementary education at Michigan State University, where she helps future teachers recover from the trauma inflicted on them by years of school mathematics.

At night, she writes stories about smart girls falling for feminist boys in quirky midwestern settings and likes using One Direction lyrics as the inspiration for entire novels. Social media still scares her, but she’s working on it.

Reviews

[Natalie Pough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Parks does a brilliant job of reminding educators of our purpose. When children want to be a part of the learning environment, great things happen... even great test scores. This book reminded me of the days when I loved going to school and how I need to make sure I maintain that same energy in my classroom.