About the Early Math Collaborative
In 2007, Erikson Institute launched the Early Math Collaborative to increase the quality of early math education.
We’re Enhancing Early Math Education in Three Key Ways
- Professional development of teachers, facilitators/trainers, and administrators
- Conducting research to generate new knowledge about approaches to teacher education, teacher development, and the most effective methods of mathematics instruction for young children
- Being a source of information on foundational mathematics – what it is, how it develops in children, and how best to teach it.
Big Ideas in Early Mathematics
Central to our approach is a set of Big Ideas in early mathematics created by the Collaborative to provide teachers of young children with a series of central, coherent, and developmentally appropriate concepts that can be incorporated into any curriculum.
These Concepts are Fundamental to a Young Child’s Understanding of Mathematics
As a means to strengthen programming we conduct as well as become a resource for other teachers and teacher educators, the Early Math Collaborative online environment aims to collect and disseminate resources as well as provide avenues for discussion around mathematics in the early years.
These resources, whether internally-produced content or links to external sources, are archived according to media type, series, and the Collaborative’s own Foundational Math Topics and Big Ideas. In this way, whether you are a 1st grade teacher looking for ideas within a Common Core focus, a researcher searching for specific math education-related articles, or a parent who would like to find engaging activities to explore foundational math concepts, you can find what you need within our virtual learning center.
Build on This Foundation
Graduate study at Erikson connects research, practice, and policy.
Discover The Idea Library
Explore hundreds of free classroom videos, activities, and articles designed to put early childhood development and early math education research into action.
Our Mission
We believe that you have to understand what you are teaching to teach for understanding. Because of this, we believe that teachers and caregivers must understand what early math is, as well as understand precursor concepts that lead to mathematical thinking. It isn’t just counting and it isn’t just rote memorization of shape names.
We have identified Big Ideas and Precursor Concepts to help understand the many facets involved with early math teaching and learning. They are organized under topics that teachers of young children need to explore in order to support the development of everyday math thinking from birth to eight years.
Together, we are transforming the understanding, teaching and learning of early mathematics from the ground up. Join us!
Core Values
#1 Math learning is for everyone
Mathematics is a creative, meaning-making endeavor that can empower children and adults to become problem solvers in their own lives.
Mathematics learning is not a function of genetic inheritance, but a result of effort and equitable instruction.
We can all enjoy mathematics and achieve a level of success.
#2 Math learning is crucial in early childhood
Early mathematics addresses simple, yet profound, concepts that are key building blocks to understanding later, more complex mathematics.
It is important to nurture interest in mathematics and to build identities as capable mathematicians during early childhood because this is the time when children begin to define their self-concept by making choices and developing preferences.
Early mathematics achievement is highly predictive of later school success in both mathematics and reading, so all children need access to early math experiences before formal schooling.
#3 Math learning follows developmental progressions
There are big ideas of mathematics that all learners must construct for themselves.
Different strands of mathematical ideas develop in parallel – and sometimes unevenly – before getting connected.
Different learners may take different pathways to reach the same mathematical understanding or skill.
#4 Math learning depends on effective teaching
Effective math teaching focuses on the most important mathematical concepts and skills and illuminates why they matter.
Effective math teaching values existing ideas learners have about concepts and makes connections to new or different ideas.
Effective math teaching provides ongoing opportunities for learners to engage in mathematical practices that result in depth and quality of understanding.
Understanding the Big Ideas & Precursor Concepts
We’ve identified 26 key mathematical concepts, or Big Ideas, that lay the foundation for lifelong learning and thinking. They are comprehensive, developmentally organized, and flexible. And they are reflective of our own expertise on the important thinking that takes place in early childhood.
Precursor means “to come before,” and we believe that deep and meaningful engagement with these concepts must come before a child is ready to attend to the early mathematical Big Ideas in preschool.
Join the Collaborative
Together, We Can Change the Way Math Is Taught
Join a hub of educators, administrators, and professionals reframing the way we think about and teach math.