Wooden blocks, Magna-tiles, and Lego bricks have taken quite a residence in the childhood of young children. Toys like these and other building materials provide children with a fascination with creative opportunity. As an adult, I am still astounded by the ideas that come to mind when I open one of the Lego containers I […]
I have consistently found that young children are always fascinated by anyone viewing photographs or videos on a smartphone. “Can I see, can I see?” they say as they mosey their way into your lap. Where children viewing what has been taken by a camera is important, it is also just as important to get […]
Young children love to play games. For example, currently, my five-year-old daughter is in love with the game Chutes and Ladders, a board game that has the players climbing up ladders and sliding down chutes in an attempt to be the first player to reach the top 100th square. She not only enjoys the competition, […]
Coding and programming has become a popular trend in education today. It has become recognized that possessing a capacity for perseverance and a skill set to be able to understand the basics of coding and programming can provide individuals with an avenue to explore creativity and innovation in a way students have not before on […]
Research indicates that when children enter kindergarten, math skills are one of the leading indicators of their future academic success. “Early math skills are important predictors of later success in school in both reading and math.” (Duncan, et al., 2017). Therefore, the importance of creating math opportunities in early childhood is crucial. Because math is […]
Process art is important to young learners. It speaks to the idea that children do not need structured, planned out, learning opportunities but instead appreciate the opportunity for rich experiences through exploration and wonder. Finding ways to encourage children’s interests in the early learning environment builds important brain connections. Children feel supported as they understand […]
Children see the world with “big eyes.” It is a child’s profound curiosity and love of wonder that helps them understand others and their own place in the world. When I create spaces for learning, I want to envision the environment as children do. Combining math with artistic experiences is a great way to turn […]
Children have an innate sense of joy; to dream, learn, and seek wonder in everything. They have bright enthusiasm and endless curiosity. Just a brief conversation with a three-year-old will give you a sense of how beautiful they find the world. I strive to capture that magic when designing a math environment to meet […]
Just mentioning math can strike fear into the heart of even the most educated parent! While many of us are quite skilled with math, it has still become a common “fear” for many folks. Yet, still, those of us with older children have been quite perplexed as the methods for mastering math in school has […]
One of my favorite activities in an early childhood environment is block play. Blocks and block areas are a natural place for multiple children to hang out together, work together and bring to life what they see in their mind’s eye. There have been times where the children are so engaged that we must save […]