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Literacy and mathematical concepts in pre-kindergarten
Literacy and mathematical concepts in pre-kindergarten
Pre-Kindergarten teachers O’Shea and Samantha Lock
The power of play is the most useful tool for literacy and numeracy learning.
Learning occurs through play and play-based experiences. Children learn best when they are engaged and interested, have a sense of curiosity and experience things that are meaningful to them. In Pre-Kindergarten, we are surrounded by wonder, creativity, and discoveries. Each moment is an opportunity to learn and grow. It is no different when we think of literacy and mathematics. Our Pre- Kindergarten environment is meaningful and rich in open-ended experiences. We embrace the literacy and mathematical concepts that everyday life offers us.
Mathematics and literacy are both tools for inquiry, communication and reasoning and the understanding of each informs the other (Henningsen, 2013). In Pre-Kindergarten, our learning is interwoven, every task from washing our hands to preparing recess becomes an opportunity to learn. The environment plays a crucial role in our teaching. Through play and open-ended experiences, we challenge and inspire children. Pre-literacy occurs through assisting language acquisition and development, talking and conversation. It is our role to scaffold children’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm for learning with rich language supporting literacy and mathematical development. Each day, the children are exposed to books and stories. An early love of books and stories sets children onto a path of continued love of reading and success in literacy.
Education Assistant Cathy Farrell with young avid readers Lily Fong, Arthur Grant, Raphael Della Vadova
Daily learning occurs everywhere around us. The children experiment with gradients as they watch water roll down a hill, at the water table they manipulate objects to learn about volume and mass, the sand pit and block corner provide endless opportunities for them to problem solve, discuss, predict, measure, and count. Our weekly cooking sessions immerse children in rich language and reinforce mathematical concepts. We provide manipulatives and appropriate mathematical language to extend play as well as providing age-appropriate play-based instruction related to counting, one-to-one correspondence, measurement, hefting and number recognition.
Mark making is one of the key building blocks in developing early writing (Cowley, 2019). Children are supported to engage with a range of implements as they engage in mark making to develop their pre-writing skills. Daily rhymes and song build and support phonological awareness and teach both literacy and mathematical concepts.
As a Reggio Emilia inspired classroom, it is our role as teachers to join the children in their learning journey. In Reggio Emilia schools, each child is viewed as infinitely capable, creative, and intelligent.
