Fun and Fundamental Math for Young Children

Educators of young children who don’t yet know the work of Marian Small are in for a gift—a treasure trove to enhance their teaching and thinking about math. This book focuses on the most important concepts and skills needed to provide early learners (preK–2) with a strong foundation in mathematics, in ways that are fun for both children and educators! For each mathematical concept, professional developer Marian Small provides sample activities and lessons, as well as guidance for using children’s books, games, manipulatives, and electronic devices. This resource also demonstrates how to differentiate instruction using tasks and questions designed to include all students. Like other Marian Small bestsellers, the text features her special brand of lucid explanation of difficult concepts, fresh and engaging teaching examples, troubleshooting tips, and formative assessments. Fun and Fundamental Math for Young Children is separated into special grade level sections for pre-K, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. It can be used with any early childhood curriculum or as a stand-alone program in preschools.

Book Features:

• The why as well as the how for teaching math to young children.
• A focus on the value of play in learning math concepts.
• 225 unique and interesting games and activities designed to build important math skills.
• Recommendations of read-aloud and other books that are both fun and support math understanding.
• Detailed strategies to help parents support their children’s learning at home.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Visit Marian Small’s website onetwoinfinity.ca for in-person and online professional development.

Marian Small is the former dean of education at the University of New Brunswick and longtime professor of mathematics education. She is widely known for her bestselling books and her in-district work with educators in the United States and Canada. Visit her website onetwoinfinity.ca for in-person and online professional development.

"Marian Small has once again shared a beautiful blend of pedagogy and practice. Only this time she’s written a book specifically for preschool through 2nd-grade teachers. Within the first few pages it quickly became apparent that, whether you are a new or veteran teacher, your knowledge and appreciation of and for primary mathematics will grow page by page."
—From the foreword by Graham Fletcher, math specialist, Atlanta, Georgia

"Marian Small has succeeded in describing the development of major aspects of children’s mathematical thinking and, most importantly, in connecting them to many interesting and useful classroom activities."
—Herbert Ginsburg, professor emeritus, Teachers College, Columbia University

“I love this book! The ideas are invaluable and the attention to detail is amazing. It shows teachers exactly how to help students think more deeply about open questions and tasks. Marian small is brilliant.”
—Nicki Newton, math consultant

Tentative Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Pedagogical Principles—Playing, Talking, Touching, and Thinking Their Way to Understanding
   What Makes a Task Worthwhile?
   Rich Mathematical Conversation
   The Value of Teaching Through Play
   The Value of Learning Using Concrete Objects 
   The Importance of Differentiation
   The Importance of Listening to the Child

Chapter 2. Counting and Cardinality
   The Fundamentals
   Misconceptions to Watch For
   The Fun
      PreK and Kindergarten
         Suggestions for Home Activities

Chapter 3. Operations and Algebraic Thinking
   The Fundamentals
   Misconceptions to Watch For
   The Fun
      PreK and Kindergarten
         Suggestions for Home Activities
      1st Grade
         Suggestions for Home Activities
      2nd Grade 
         Suggestions for Home Activities

Chapter 4. Number and Operations in Base Ten
   The Fundamentals
   Misconceptions to Watch For
   The Fun

Chapter 5. Measurement and Data
   The Fundamentals
   Misconceptions to Watch For
   The Fun
      PreK and Kindergarten
         Suggestions for Home Activities
      1st Grade
         Suggestions for Home Activities
      2nd Grade
         Suggestions for Home Activities

Chapter 6. Geometry
   The Fundamentals
   Misconceptions to Watch For
   The Fun
      PreK and Kindergarten
         Suggestions for Home Activities
      1st Grade
         Suggestions for Home Activities
      2nd Grade
         Suggestions for Home Activities
   Additional Activities

Conclusions

Glossary

References

Index

About the Author 

• Co-published with and available in Canada exclusively from Rubicon Publishing Inc.
• All other sales throughout the world available via Eurospan.