"Studies find that the mathematics knowledge acquired in early childhood and early elementary grades is a critical foundation for long-term student success." (The National Governors Association Paper, 2014)
Recognizing the importance of supporting teachers and caregivers in developing number sense and mathematics readiness for all children, a partnership of community members collaborated school leaders to bring Sidewalk Math to young children in their community. Sidewalk Math is designed to engage young children in learning mathematical patterns by walking, hopping, jumping, and skipping through colorful designs painted on sidewalks, school hallways and playgrounds. Sidewalk Math has been collaboratively designed by mathematics educators to build critical number sense skills in young children, by designers to engage children in kinesthetic learning, and by early childhood educators to ensure caregivers feel confident in practicing counting and patternmaking with children.
In this workshop we will engage participants in interacting with the Sidewalk Math patterns; examine the “We Count” teaching resources designed for teachers and caregivers to engage their children with the patterns; explore the variety of educational resources found in "The Footbook: Steps to Developing Numbersense in Young Children” that accompanies Sidewalk Math; and identify strategies for developing partnerships to bring Sidewalk Math to their community.
The design team of mathematics educators, university faculty, and school leaders who created Sidewalk Math will lead this workshop. This will ensure that all participants have the opportunity to explore these resources with colleagues able to support them in considering how to bring this project back to their own community.