by Chuck Green | CYFS
Although kindergarten is widely recognized as the beginning of a child’s formal academic journey, preparation for that journey is crucial. Research shows that solid early childhood experiences provide substantial benefits for children’s success.
High-quality, early mathematical instruction is particularly important. Children’s early mathematical knowledge also predicts reading achievement even beyond kindergarten.
However, persistent teacher turnover in early childhood settings can negatively impact children’s learning opportunities. When teachers with strong math expertise leave a school or learning center, their content knowledge and instructional practices go with them.
To help overcome such challenges, Husker researchers Kelley Buchheister, Holly Hatton-Bowers and Rachel Schachter — assistant professors of child, youth and family studies, and research affiliates of the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools — have designed an innovative professional learning model to enhance teachers’ mathematical knowledge and practice.
Because directors and coaches are more likely to remain in their positions, Buchheister said, preparing them as leaders is essential to retaining their knowledge and skills in a school or program.
The “Coach Approach” project focuses on building early childhood leaders’ capacity to support teachers’ practices and build effective strategies to promote children’s mathematical learning. The professional learning experience for on-site coaches includes workshops, regular planning meetings and follow-up sessions, and a content video series design to expand their mathematical content knowledge.
“Teachers in preschool and early childhood settings need to understand and think about mathematics, and about how they approach mathematics — not just in instructional activities, but also informal activities and settings, during play and time outside class,” said Buchheister, the project’s principal investigator. Buchheister taught a course for the Primarily Math program in 2019 at ESU 3.
Read More:
https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/coach-approach-builds-preschool-teachers-professional-knowledge/