Finding Rigor Within a Large-Scale Expansion of Preschool to Test Impacts of a Professional Development Program

Achieving high-quality preschool at scale is challenging; to do so likely entails a combination of program standards, teacher qualifications and compensation, on-site quality monitoring, and professional development (PD). This study aims to examine the impact of investments in PD within the context of an expansion of universal preschool in one of the nation’s largest school districts. We leverage the opportunity provided by a “natural experiment” to estimate PD’s effects that embeds an evidence-based math curriculum in interdisciplinary units of study with coaching support on teacher math practices. A total of 95 schools participated in this study (51 treatment and 44 comparison schools). Treatment sites implemented more teacher-led math activities for a longer period compared to control sites. The size and magnitude of the impacts of a curriculum and PD program implemented at scale were comparable to results from studies of small-scale efficacy trials.

Positive Energy

This chapter introduces a project-based learning lesson that integrates science, English language arts (ELA), and math through a study related to energy sources. Throughout the lesson, students are engaged in a real-world problem of determining the impact of a population on energy resources and discovering ways to build greener, more energy-efficient schools for students of the future. Within this chapter, the authors present a proposed project timeline that teachers can use for implementation within their own classrooms, including an entry event to engage students in the mission of the project. A connection between science, ELA, and math practices is addressed in order to provide students with an opportunity to understand the correlation between all three subject areas. Suggested teaching and learning tasks focused on the driving question of the project and related to all three subject areas are presented along with suggestions for a culminating product and assessment of student learning.

Cross-Reality Math Visualization

Traditionally, the numeric symbols are introduced along with the alphabet. Dream Realizations believes that the introduction of numeric symbols is premature and prevents children from seeing the patterns that various numbers make. Research on subitizing substantiates the natural ability of the human eye to instantly “see” quantities. The early introduction of symbol and process prevents seeing the beautiful metapatterns of polynomials, which are easily recognized when mixed quantities are represented in different base systems: subQuanned. The authors have researched current math practices, math in virtual worlds, number sense, and subitizing to fortify the direction of their efforts. Their journey progresses from the physical (paper and cubes) to the virtual (online flash-based programming) to the immersive (3D in Second Life). This natural progression and ultimate visualization of quantity and metapattern lie in the immersive world. Individuals at all stages of learning can finally see and understand math from a very different vantage point.

Math Instructional Practices within Preschool/Kindergarten Gifted Programs

Math instructional practices/materials utilized by teachers in early childhood programs for gifted three-, four-, and five-years have been discussed in this article. Information was collected for a study that examined specific math practices utilized by teachers in gifted preschool/kindergarten programs within the United States. Results indicated that most respondents used unstructured activities (e.g., discovery learning, learning centers) in small groups when providing math instruction. Although the teachers exposed the gifted children to concepts generally introduced to older students; they most frequently taught concepts found in traditional early childhood programs. Children were infrequently exposed to concepts/materials pertaining to time and measurement even though research has indicated that young gifted children often possess advanced capabilities in these areas.