1. RESEARCH ABOUT YOUNG CHILDREN Young children engage in extensive mathematical activity during play. Young children can learn far more then we expect with guidance. Young children possess basic mathematical concepts, strategies, & skills. Young children have difficulty expressing their thinking.

2. CURRICULUM SHOULD Draw on everyday mathematical interests. Child-centered & developmentally appropriate. Provides in-depth, systematic, & sequenced examination of core mathematical topics. Integrates mathematics into other academic areas. Stimulates playful but purposeful learning. Provides practice & repetition.

3. HOW CHILDREN GAIN FROM THIS TYPE LEARNING Learn to love math and enjoy themselves. Learn to think and to become aware of their own thinking. Increase vocabulary and expressive abilities. Appreciate and understand books. Exercise their intellectual curiosity.

4. BENEFITS FOR TEACHERS Activities are enjoyable, challenging, and organized in a useful sequence. Storybooks can be a key link to interesting mathematical content. Gain new insights into mathematics content and children’s understandings of mathematics

5. BIG IDEAS OF CURRICULUM WHAT ARE NUMBERS? counting cardinality ordinality two- and three-dimensional shapes symmetry THE SHAPE OF THINGS

6. BIG IDEAS OF CURRICULUM PATTERNS Patterns with numbers and shapes length & height weight capacity temperature time money MEASUREMENT

7. BIG IDEAS OF CURRICULUM WORKING WITH NUMBERS comparing numbers operations with numbers SPATIAL SENSE positions directions map reading