New Media and Preschool Math
The Montessori math curriculum involves many hands-on materials. These include the number rods, which give a child a first experience of amounts 1-10, and the golden bead materials, which introduce the concept of place value.
In the Montessori classroom, we explore addition of large numbers using hands-on materials known as the golden beads.
Screen-based learning is gaining a lot of attention as young people are growing up surrounded by their parents’ and increasingly their own personal media devices. Many software developers are creating educational apps and internet-based learning games. What does this mean for preschool math education? How can teachers and parents evaluate the merit of these programs?
Winfield Children’s House has a resource in the form of our past director, Cathy. Cathy has examined some of the benefits of screen-based math games and how to evaluate games. She’s also compiled a list of web links to visit.
The Benefits of Math Games
- Increases curiosity and motivation
- Reduces anxiety in the math classroom
- Builds strategy and reasoning skills
Questions to Ask When Evaluating Math Games
- Is the competition positive and non-threatening?
- Is there a combination of chance and choice in the game? That is, are there both a random component (rolling a dice, drawing a card) and an opportunity to make a decision?
- Is there embedded scaffolding? If a player gets stuck, are there hints?
- Are there suggestions to integrate the game into the classroom? Are there follow-up questions for parents/teachers?
- Is the length of play appropriate for the child’s level of attention?
- Was the math situated in a meaningful context? Does the game promote deeper understanding of mathematical concepts?
- Does the child feel empowered and in control? In other words, do decisions have clear outcomes?
- Does the game encourage social play? The Three C’s of game-playing are: competition, collaboration and communication. Even one-player games can spark rich discussion of strategy.
Math Games for Preschoolers
- coolmath-games.com
- Apples 4 the Teacher: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/math.html
- Fun Brain: http://www.funbrain.com/kidscenter.html
- Kaboose: http://resources.kaboose.com/games/math2.html
- Math Playground: http://www.mathplayground.com/
- Sesame Street: http://www.sesamestreet.org/games
- Sprout: http://www.sproutonline.com/games
- Pitara Kid’s Network: http://www.pitara.com/activities/math.asp
What other games or apps have you found that engage and encourage your child?