'This book is the ideal way to dispel some of the fears which surround the subject area of mathematics and should be an essential part of the professional development library of every early years setting provider for children aged three and over' - Early Years Update
'A book that is both readable and rigorous. [Its] guidance will help teachers to make mathematics meaningful to young children. Throughout the book connections are made which relate language, symbols, concrete materials and pictures to the key ideas that are central to effective learning for the 21st century. This book will help teachers gain a depth of understanding that will make them confident in engaging children with real mathematical thinking' - Dr J.E. Anghileri, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics and Mathematics Education, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge
'This is an updated version of a classic text which has been a best -seller among teachers and student teachers for many years. Being always strongly grounded in the classroom, it develops in a non-intimidating way teachers' own understanding of the mathematics they are teaching. Many insightful examples of children's thinking and appropriate activities help to illustrate the points. This is an essential book for teachers of Early Years and Key Stage 1' - Margaret Brown, Professor of Mathematics Education, King's College London, UK
This is a fully revised version of the authors' successful and much-used book, Understanding Mathematics in the Lower Primary Years, updated to include the current Foundation Stage Curriculum and the new Primary Framework in England.
The authors empower the reader to have a clearer understanding of the mathematical ideas behind the material they use in the classroom. They also show how children can be helped to develop an understanding of mathematics for themselves, rather than just learning recipes and routines with little meaning.
Major themes are:
- Understanding through making connections
- Equivalence and transformation
- Using and applying mathematics
It is written for teachers and teacher trainees engaged in teaching mathematics to children aged 3 to 8 years. It is an essential student text and professional reference work for all teachers of children aged 3 to 8 years.
Dr Derek Haylock is an education consultant and author, working in the field of mathematics education. His book Mathematics Explained for Primary Teachers has been a leader in the field for many years, with a third edition published in 2006.
Dr Anne Cockburn is a Reader in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning at the University of East Anglia, Norwich.
Watch the authors talking about their book here: YouTube
Derek Haylock is an education consultant and author. He worked for over 30 years in teacher education, both initial and in-service, and was Co-Director of Primary Initial Teacher Training and responsible for the mathematics components of the primary programmes at the University of East Anglia (UEA) Norwich. He has considerable practical experience of teaching and researching in primary classrooms. His work in mathematics education has taken him to Germany, Belgium, Lesotho, Kenya, Brunei and India. He works as a consultant for both the Training and Development Agency for Schools and the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency. As well as his extensive publications in the field of education, he has written seven books of Christian drama for young people and a Christmas musical (published by Church House/National Society). Professor Anne Cockburn is Professor in Early Years' Education. Her research interests focus on mathematics education in the primary school and teacher well being, recruitment and retention. She is currently working on 5th edition of Understanding Mathematics for Young Children with Derek Haylock (Sage Publications) and writing a book with the working title, Primary Head Teachers Talking: reflections on the challenges and complexities of educational leadership. She has completed a range of research projects including - Understanding the Primary Mathematics Classroom Part 2 (Economic and Social Research Council Award, RES-000-22-0851) with Paola Iannone (2004-2005); Communicating our Strategies in Primary School Mathematics (Socrates-Comenius 2.1) with colleagues from across the European Union (2003-2006) and Mathematical Misconceptions in the Primary Years (British Academy, LRG-42447) with international partners (2006-2007). She is currently disseminating the findings of her most project - Challenging Colleagues: primary head teachers managing mediocre practitioners - which was funded by the Nuffield Foundation (# 39039). Professor Cockburn chaired the International Meeting of the Psychology of Mathematics Education Group in 2002 and was a member of the International Committee (2001 -2005). She was an Associate Editor of the Journal of Mathematics Teacher Educators (2007-2012) and was an external examiner for the Economic and Social Research Council student awards (2002-2006). She currently teaches research methods at masters' level and supervises 4 doctoral students.
