Mathematics and Science in Early Childhood Education

By Idalah Reece

Grade 1 Learning Environment

• The classroom environment is more than just the physical space; it is the entire setting for learning. It encompasses the relationships between and among students and teachers, as well as the expectations and norms for learning and behaviour. Positive classroom environments are associated with a range of important outcomes for students.

Math science and motivation

• Motivation is related to later mathematics achievement and attitude (Reynolds & Walberg, 1992).

• Changing the classroom environment to improve students’ perceptions improves achievement as well as outcomes such as interest and motivation (Waxman & Huang, 1996). For example, students’ positive perceptions of the classroom environment contribute to developing a favorable attitude toward mathematics (Reynolds & Walberg, 1992)

Classroom environment• The influence of the classroom environment on

students’ motivation and enthusiasm is especially important as students are asked to develop deep understanding of challenging mathematics and science topics. One of the goals of the mathematics and science standards is to encourage students to have favorable attitudes toward mathematics and science, in part because of the effects on students’ learning. Positive emotions and intrinsic motivation are essential for success in problem solving, creativity, and conceptual understanding (Schiefele & Csikszentmihalyi, 1995).

Welcome to 1R

How can math and science be facilitated by the picture on the door?• Math is a way of viewing the world and the young

child experiences in it.• Science is the exploration, observation,

discoveries and reflection of the child’s understanding of his environment.

• The picture on the door enhances the children’s courisity. They ask about the colour of the alligator, his habitat, how sharp are his teeth, where are his other feet, what type of tree it is? And they are always feeling the texture.

Time table

The time table

• It provides the students with a routine.• They are able to sequence the events of the

day.• Is that not math and science

Lunch price listThe price list facilitates the learning of math and science as they observe the list and make association with the value of their money and what they can afford to buy, through number operations, creating a weekly lunch pattern Memorize words and how money is written. It also facilitates reading through mathematical thinking

Math and science activites

• Some science practices are asking questions defining problems, developing models, plan and carry out investigations analyze and interpret data construct explanations, design solutions, engage in argument from evidence, obtain evaluate and communicate information.

Some of our work

We can observe our mistakes

• When children see their work beside others they sometimes compare, enhances their sense of pride and encourages motivation.

• Seeing their work along side others help children to make critical decisions regarding their work.

• Critical thinking is science. This sometimes help children to self actualize thus solving the problem of his informal learning.

Nature area

The cycle of learningTeachers create the environment to facilitate • Awareness• Exploration• Inquiry• Utilization• The nature area is equipped with a feely box of

things in nature, an aquarium with fish, coloured rice with questions, peas waiting to grow, chicky to enhance texture, coloured water and empty containers which are usually on the go!

Math and science in Language Arts

Integrating math into Language Arts

• Children's books are being used more frequently to teach mathematics. With literature, children are able to experience the wonder of mathematics in the same way they appreciate the wonders of a great story. Children's literature is an effective tool for mathematics instruction because it incorporates stories into the teaching and learning of mathematics

• introduces math concepts and contexts in a motivating manner

• acts as a source for generating problems and building problem solving skills

• helps build a conceptual understanding of math skills through illustrations.

Develop new discoveries through Reading

Who are we?

Exploring the world

• The map teaches distance • Helps with the discoveries of new countries • Match flags to countries • Recognize the difference in the Jamaican flag

between other countries and also the commonalities

• Have meaningful discussion of the size of Jamaica to other larger unknown countries.

• Each class has the access of one laptop and a pair of speakers, however, sometimes the lap top and the white board are too much work for preparation. However if we are not able to manage we can take the children to the computer room.They also have a music teacher so on Mondays they go to music. However sinc e is a great subject with which language may be integrated.

Recommendations

• The floor can be utilize more to enhance student math and science skill, just using it for counting and hopscotch is insufficient.

• It may be used when teaching measurement. It could be used as a non standard measuring instrument, the pattern could be recreated, find several pattern in them.

• More information on floor may be added to the lesson by asking critical questions

• Children may be guided to ask and answer questions in relation to the world and the experiences they have with travel and travel.

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conclusion

• Some mathematical concepts are probability, algebra, geometry, measurement, number sense and statistics.

• The young child has been manipulative. Some science are

• Math and science are easy blend to integrate into any subject, because as the baby is born he begins to use and explore is mathematical and science abilities.