Unlocking Preschool Math Goals
When teaching young children, it’s important to have a clear understanding of preschool math goals and how they guide the learning process. By incorporating a variety of preschool math activities in all the right disciplines, teachers can help children build a strong foundation that will give them more ease in learning math in the later years.
In preschool, math skills go beyond just learning to count. They include math processing skills like problem solving and communicating. This article will cover essential math concepts, objectives, and goals that every preschooler should be exposed to, offering practical strategies and activities to support early math development.
In preschool, what should be taught in math can be divided into two key areas: preschool math skills and math process skills. Preschool math skills focus on the basic concepts such as counting, identifying shapes, understanding number relationships, and recognizing patterns.
These are the foundational building blocks of math.
On the other hand, math process skills involve the methods children use to explore and understand these concepts. This includes problem-solving, reasoning, and critical thinking.
By nurturing both math skills and process skills, educators create a well-rounded learning experience that not only introduces essential math topics but also helps children understand how to apply them in real-world situations.
When using effective and research driven teaching strategies like in the Daily Lessons in Preschool Math Curriculum, preschoolers get the best of both!
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The Goal of Preschool Math
In preschool, the goal is to help children develop an awareness of the math concepts that surround them. It’s to create a solid foundation in math so that formal learning later on is easier.
But early math exposure helps students think critically and tap into logical reasoning.
As preschoolers learn basic math concepts and to solve simple problems, kids learn to reason, approach tasks step-by-step, and creatively make connections by recognizing relationships.
This is all done by using a preschool math program that incorporates essential math skills that expose children to different math processes as well.
What Are Preschool Math Skills?
Preschool math skills should be centered around the five disciplines of math. Below is a list of math skills grouped by the five key math areas.
- Number Sense: Counting, recognizing numbers, understanding quantity, and one-to-one correspondence.
- Algebra: Identifying patterns, sorting objects, and beginning to understand sequencing.
- Geometry: Recognizing and naming shapes, understanding spatial relationships, and exploring symmetry.
- Measurement: Comparing objects by size, length, weight, and capacity; understanding concepts of time.
- Data Analysis and Probability: Sorting objects, making simple graphs, and recognizing basic probabilities.
These preschool math skills provide a comprehensive introduction to math concepts, which is also found in our math scope and sequence for preschoolers. You can grab a copy at the end of this post.
What Are Preschool Math Goals?
Understanding math in preschool goes beyond counting and simple arithmetic. Preschool math should focus on building foundational skills that help children think critically, solve problems, and communicate mathematical ideas.
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) outlines five key process goals that support these objectives. Here’s how they can be applied in a preschool setting:
1. Problem Solving
Problem-solving is a core part of preschool math, helping children develop critical thinking skills early on. Using a hands-on approach helps children build a foundation for understanding how math applies to everyday life and future learning.
Building New Knowledge Through Problem Solving
Problem-solving in preschool involves engaging children in activities where they can discover new math concepts through hands-on exploration. This helps them understand how math is connected to the world around them.
Applying Strategies to Solve Problems
Teachers can introduce different strategies for solving simple problems, encouraging preschoolers to adapt methods such as counting on fingers, using manipulatives, or drawing pictures to represent their thinking.
Monitoring and Reflecting on Problem Solving
Children should be encouraged to think about how they approach a problem and reflect on their steps. Simple reflection questions like “How did you figure that out?” help children develop metacognitive skills in math.
2. Reasoning and Proof
Reasoning and proof may seem advanced for preschoolers, but they are integral to developing logical thinking. Encouraging children to explain their thinking helps them strengthen their understanding of math and builds confidence in their reasoning skills.
Recognizing Reasoning and Proof in Math
Even at a young age, preschoolers can begin to understand that math is about reasoning and making sense of numbers. Activities such as sorting objects or comparing sizes encourage children to make logical choices based on reasoning.
Developing and Evaluating Mathematical Arguments
Preschoolers can start to explain their thinking in simple terms. For example, when asked why one block is bigger than another, a child might say, “This one is taller,” which demonstrates their ability to make basic mathematical arguments.
3. Communication
Communication in math is essential for helping preschoolers organize their thoughts and solidify their understanding of mathematical concepts. Sharing these ideas with peers and teachers also enhances their ability to analyze and explain their thought processes.
Organizing Mathematical Thinking Through Communication
Preschool math should encourage children to talk about what they are learning. Using the language of math—such as terms like “more,” “less,” “taller,” or “heavier”—helps them organize their thoughts and solidify their understanding.
Sharing Math Ideas
By explaining their thought process to peers and teachers, preschoolers strengthen their communication skills and deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts.
4. Connections
In preschool, children start recognizing how math connects to their everyday experiences. By making these connections, preschoolers build a broader understanding of the role math plays in their world.
Recognizing and Using Mathematical Connections
In preschool, children begin to see how math connects to different areas of life. For example, recognizing patterns in a daily routine or identifying shapes in their environment helps children understand how math is interconnected with the world around them.
Applying Math in Everyday Contexts
Preschool teachers can help children make these connections by incorporating math into everyday activities. Whether it’s counting apples at snack time or comparing the length of toy cars, children learn that math is a part of their daily lives.
5. Representation
Representation is an important aspect of preschool math, allowing children to express their mathematical ideas through objects, drawings, and symbols. These representations help children model and solve problems, laying the groundwork for more complex math skills in the future.
Using Representations to Communicate Ideas
In preschool, children use objects, drawings, and symbols to represent mathematical ideas. For example, they might use blocks to represent numbers or draw lines to represent measurements.
Modeling and Solving Problems Using Representations
When children use these representations to solve problems—like drawing circles to represent cookies or lining up blocks to compare lengths—they develop an early understanding of how math helps model and interpret the world around them.
Setting clear preschool math goals and objectives is key to building a strong mathematical foundation for young learners. By incorporating a diverse range of preschool math activities that target essential concepts like number sense, geometry, and problem solving, teachers can foster confidence and curiosity in their students.
Furthermore, focusing on math process skills such as reasoning, communication, and making connections ensures that children develop critical thinking abilities that will benefit them in the years to come.
With thoughtful planning and engaging activities, teachers can make math both fun and accessible, giving preschoolers the tools they need for future success in mathematics.
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.