Professional Development: Embedding Numeracy

Embedding numeracy into a play-based kindergarten program

By Merilyn Griplas

FACTS:

1. Many early childhood Educators have had negative mathematics experiences in their schooling and therefore believe they will not be able to support children in this area adequately.

2. Resilience and perseverance support achievement in numeracy.

3. Children who start school behind in maths generally stay behind.

To move to a full registration of teaching this year, I was required to undertake an inquiry process. I chose numeracy as my topic as I wanted to develop a more balanced approach to my teaching and ensure numeracy had an equal focus to literacy and the arts in the kindergarten program. I incorporated numeracy, with a focus on measurement, into our four year-old program whilst working with parents and educators to increase awareness.

During the inquiry process we used tape measures, rulers, objects from the garden and from home to measure the room, ourselves and everything around us. We then used timers, songs and charts to measure time, including the days of the week. We explored numeracy in small and large groups, and I used a combination of intentional teaching and spontaneous moments to implement the action plan.  

The GEKA McKinnon Educators embraced the journey, and as a team our awareness of embedding numeracy into the program increased. We are all more confident and creative when exploring numeracy with the children. Importantly, we noticed an increase in children’s enthusiasm to engage in the topic. 

We will continue these practises into the future, our numeracy resources are front and centre in the room and we will build on these resources.

I recommend looking at “Lets Count Online”.  This free online course is provided by the Smith Family and is completed at your own pace. It gave me some fresh ideas to try with the children and tips on how to engage with families.

If anyone in the GEKA community is needing to go through the process of moving to a full teaching registration and would like to chat, I would love to share my experience with you.  You can email me at mgriplas@geka.org.au.