Let's Talk About Math: The LittleCounters Approach to Building Early Math Skills

Math can't wait. Children who can count with ease before kindergarten have a better shot at future mathematics success—and with this book, it's simple and fun to weave counting and other math concepts into everyday activities. Drawn from the authors’ playful and popular LittleCounters® workshops, this guidebook shows early educators, caregivers, and parents how to use purposeful play with children from birth to 5 to promote mathematical thinking and get them ready for formal math instruction. Packed with easy, no-fear strategies any adult can use—even if you're math-phobic!—this book will help all the teachers in a child's life foster critical early math knowledge and school readiness.

READ THIS BOOK TO

• Discover amazing facts about the mathematical minds of babies and young children
• Transform ordinary toys into learning tools that help teach mathematical concepts
• Organize play environments and activities to encourage math learning
• Spot teachable moments and add purposeful math talk to daily tasks
• Teach "meaningful counting"—the skill that underpins children's potential for future math success
• Infuse math learning into specific daily routines, such as meals, chores, and bedtime
• Support children's readiness for formal math instruction
• Get started with your own LittleCounters® workshop—or use the principles right away in your program or home

PRACTICAL MATERIALS: Examples and vignettes; sample activities and scripts of adult-child dialogue; recommended counting books and songs; and a detailed introduction to interactive LittleCounters® workshops, where parents and kids learn and have fun together.

Donna Kotsopoulos, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Science (Department of Mathematics) at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. She is a former elementary and secondary school mathematics teacher. Dr. Kotsopoulos is a certified member of the Ontario College of Teachers. She is the co-developer of LittleCounters ®, a program aimed at supporting parents, caregivers, early childhood educators, and teachers in developing an understanding of early mathematical cognition. She is also the founding and co-Editor of the Fields Mathematics Education Journal. She is a member of the Canadian Mathematics Educators Study Group. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on mathematical cognition and mathematical teaching and learning across the lifespan, with a current focus on early childhood. Dr. Kotsopoulos has published in many prominent journals and has presented at conferences worldwide.

Joanne Lee, Ph.D., is a developmental psychologist who specializes in early language and mathematical development. She joined the Department of Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University in July 2006, after receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. She is the research director of Laurier Child Language & Math Lab. Her research focuses on early childhood development and education using observational and experimental methodologies to conduct both empirical and qualitative studies. One of her goals is to develop effective early childhood education programs and learning strategies to help young children acquire strong mathematical foundations.

She is currently serving as an expert consultant in early mathematics development at the Resource Services and Outreach for Deaf, Blind, Deafblind Programs at the Ministry of Education in Ontario, Canada. She is also serving on two editorial boards for Introductory Psychology university books and their digital learning resources.