20 mins
preschool children who struggle with basic math concepts
Pre-K Mathematics is a supplemental mathematics curriculum. It is designed to develop informal mathematical knowledge and skills of preschool children. The program makes used of teacher- guided, small-group activities with concrete manipulatives. The program also includes DLM Early Childhood Express Math software with math-based activities to reinforce math concepts taught in the classroom.
The Pre-K Mathematics curriculum is organized into seven units based on the following math content: (a) counting and numbers, (b) understanding arithmetic operations (fall activities), (c) spatial sense and geometry, (d) patterns, (e) understanding arithmetic operations (spring activities), (f) measurement and data, and (g) logical reasoning.
The program includes both in-class and take-home activities. The program also comes with picture strips in English or Spanish. In the classroom, math concepts and skills are taught through teacher-guided, small-group activities over the course of the school year. Weekly math activities are presented twice to prekindergarten children in small-group lessons. The program recommends a group size of four to six children. In addition, related math activities are sent home every 1 to 2 weeks; parents are encouraged to engage in these activities with their children.
Materials for the classroom and home are provided in a core program package that includes a teacher’s curriculum book, Activity Aid Masters, Home Activity Masters, and Assessment Record Sheets.
Klein, A., Starkey, P., Clements, D., Sarama, J., & Iyer, R. (2008). Effects of a pre-kindergarten mathematics intervention: A randomized experiment. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 1(3), 155–178.
Preschool Curriculum Evaluation Research (PCER) Consortium. (2008). Pre-K Mathematics supplemented with DLM Early Childhood Express Math software: University of California, Berkeley and University at Buffalo, State University of New York. In Effects of preschool curriculum programs on school readiness (pp. 131–142). Washington, DC: National Center for Education Research, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education.
Starkey, P., & Klein, A. (2005). A longitudinal study of the effects of a pre-kindergarten mathematics curriculum on low-income children’s mathematical knowledge. Berkeley, CA: University of California.