Promoting Numeracy Goals and Enhancing Math Problem Solving Skills

CEU Course Description

Part 1: When we consider the importance of early education, we often naturally prioritize literacy. However, new research is emerging to show that early numeracy development may be just as important. The way that the brain engages while learning early math skills can help a student succeed in other subjects - and later in life. Teaching students numeracy in the right way, however, is important: Focusing on math creativity and comprehension needs to be the priority, going forward, for the best chance of student success. 

Part 2: The goal of this course is to offer educators specific, evidence-based guidance to address the challenge of improving mathematical problem solving in young students. The course was developed using updated information from the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and provides practical, clear information on critical topics related to improving mathematical problem solving and is based on the best available evidence as judged by the authors. Five recommendations that provide teachers with a coherent approach for regularly incorporating problem solving into their classrooms are included as well as suggestions for putting each recommendation into practice, addressing roadblocks that may be encountered, and exploring possible solutions.

Part 3: In early childhood education settings, the importance of integrating STEM education into existing curriculum is widely understood.  The purpose of this continuing education course, developed using information from the International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, is to evaluate ways to develop math curriculum, frameworks, and activities based on STEM for early learners.  Research findings pertaining to STEM are presented as well as guidelines for developing a math curriculum framework and lessons that support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  Additionally, expert perspectives on this type of program are presented.

CEU Course Objectives

Part 1:

1. Review the latest research regarding how children learn numeracy goals most effectively
2. Discuss the characteristics of effective numeracy educators
3. Brainstorm several strategic ways to incorporate effective numeracy education into today’s classrooms
4. Reflect on the ways children play and learn, and how to leverage those natural instincts into effective learning and teaching strategies
5. Distinguish between true math comprehension skills (foundational logical topics) and memorization drills
6. Identify ways to tell when a student is struggling with math
7. Demonstrate why numeracy is as important as literacy for young children