There seems to be a common time when math becomes something to fear' It becomes a monster' That time

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• There seems to be a common time when math
  becomes something to fear. It becomes a monster.
  That time is around second grade. Early
  Childhood Mathematics, Sperry Smith

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So how does this relate to math and science for
young children?

• Listen to this story about a test

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So how does this relate to math and science for
young children?

• Listen to this story about a test

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So how does this relate to math and science for
young children?
A longitudinal study looked at the relationship
between the complexities of block play in
preschool children and their later math skills.
Results showed that there was no relationship
between block play and the students standardized
test scores or mathematics grades at the 3rd or
5th grade levels. However, block play and math
performance were related in junior high and high
school. Researchers found a significant
relationship between preschool block performance
and number of math courses taken, number of
honors courses, mathematics grades achieved, and
weighted mathematics points scores.
www.blockfest.org/links/BFResearch
Brief.pdf Patricia OHara, M. S., Diane Demarest,
M.Ed., and Harriet Shaklee, Ph.D. University of
Idaho Extension, Boise, Idaho
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• I sat at the little Kindergarten tabletop and
  played with the cube, the sphere, and the
  triangle I soon became susceptible to
  constructive patterns evolving in everything I
  saw. I learned to see and when I did, I did not
  care to draw casual incidentals of nature. I
  wanted to design
• Frank Lloyd Wright (1957)

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Holy Cow! I get it!

• What is algebra?
• (From the NCTM)
• Patterns- identify relationships and form
  generalizations
• Mathematical situations/structures- Equality is
  an important algebraic concept that children must
  encounter and begin to understand very early on.
• (abba) (abcabc) (abc)
• Models of quantitative relationships- How many
  ways can you create a set number? The use of
  exact amounts differentiates quantitative change
  from qualitative change.
• Change- Qualitative uses vocabulary like
  more/less, smaller/larger
• Quantitative change uses number
• Hmmmm Do you see any of these in this experience?

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Hey! That was not in the teachers
manual!Maybe thats answer!Lets look at an
experiment.
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To chase the gorilla away, lets set the tone for
the rest of the workshop with 4 ideas 1. We need
skilled mentors to teach math and science. We
need a gut check.
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To chase the gorilla away, lets set the tone for
the rest of the workshop with 3 ideas 2. Mentors
need exposure to things like EALRs and standards.
They will use this information to guide their
experiences with young children.
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To chase the gorilla away, lets set the tone for
the rest of the workshop with 3 ideas 3. Math
and science are not academic areas that need to
be taught didactically. Using play gives the
integration of math and science into real life.
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To chase the gorilla away, lets set the tone for
the rest of the workshop with 3 ideas 4. Mentors
need to recognize brain-based learning and make
it real.
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BRAIN BASED LEARNING
Prefrontal Cortex (Forebrain)
Sensory Cortex (Midbrain)
Feeling Brain Limbic System (Midbrain)
Brain Stem Reptilian Brain (Hindbrain)
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Parallel processor- does many things at once
Engages whole physiology
Search for meaning is innate
Emotions are critical- enhanced by good challenge
and inhibited by threat
Each brain is unique
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This learning theory is based on the structure
and function of the brain. As long as the brain
is not prohibited from fulfilling its normal
processes, learning will occur.
Traditional schooling, however, often inhibits
learning by discouraging, ignoring, or punishing
the brain's natural learning processes.
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The Brain Needs 3 Things
In Order To Learn At Its Highest
Level
Orchestrated immersion--Creating learning
environments that fully immerse learners in new
and meaningful experiences
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The Brain Needs 3 Things
In Order To Learn At Its Highest
Level
Relaxed alertness--Trying to eliminate fear in
learners, while maintaining a highly challenging
environment. Back off, enter when appropriate.
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The Brain Needs 3 Things
In Order To Learn At Its Highest
Level
Active processing--Allowing the learner to
consolidate and internalize information by
actively processing it. Back off and give them
time.
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We need to learn as much as we can about how the
brain develops and how human beings learn. Maybe
then we will trust
in the natural process of learning! Did you
trust your child to walk? Did you trust your
child to talk? Why not do the same for math and
science?
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States Become Traits
Adults are influenced, children are physically
altered
Cortisol released by stress, hinders neuron
growth and synaptic formation
Serotonin modulates emotions, including
aggression